WEBVTT 00:00:00.820 --> 00:00:12.179 We're in John chapter number 3 today and we're going to start, we're going to go through most of the first part of John 3 but for the sake of time, the reading we're going to start in verse number 5. 00:00:12.179 --> 00:00:21.600 And it says, Jesus answered, 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. 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:26.820 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:30.600 Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. 00:00:31.140 --> 00:00:37.880 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.380 So is every one that is born of the Spirit. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.039 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:49.980 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things? 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:56.000 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.399 And ye receive not our witness. 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:04.700 If I have told you earthly things and you believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:10.640 And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven. 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:15.920 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:20.019 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:28.780 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:29.280 Let's pray. 00:01:29.979 --> 00:01:36.799 Dear Heavenly Father, just thank you for this opportunity that we have again to come to you on this beautiful day and just to gather around your word. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:38.780 Be with the word that is preached today. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:41.620 Lord, help your words to be spoken to your people. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:47.120 Allow us to go out this week and use what we have been taught today. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:51.300 Lord, just be with Brother Tyler and his family as he is away and he is preaching. 00:01:51.660 --> 00:01:52.219 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:52.660 Amen. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:53.660 Thank you for standing. 00:01:53.740 --> 00:01:54.359 You may be seated. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:02:03.159 If you take notes, you see that the title of our message this morning is Nick at Night. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:03.980 All right? 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:09.040 Now, I would love to take all the credit for this sermon title. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.060 However, I cannot do that. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:20.199 About 20 to 25 years ago, my senior pastor at my home church in Joshua, Texas preached a sermon entitled Nick at Night. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:25.000 And as a young kid, when I saw that title of the message, I was like, man, that is ingenious. 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:28.840 And one day I want to preach a title or a message with that title. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:30.219 So here we are. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:30.680 All right? 00:02:31.140 --> 00:02:31.719 Nick at Night. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:33.240 Anybody remember Nick at Night? 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:33.980 All right? 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:35.060 Oh, yes. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:35.939 Oh, yes. 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:36.879 All right. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.539 Now you're about to show your age. 00:02:40.019 --> 00:02:42.759 Nick at Night has been around since 1984. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:44.519 Bet you didn't know that. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.620 It has been around for a very, very long time. 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:53.240 Also about to show your age here because I will tell you, I do not remember Nick at Night in the 80s. 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:53.599 All right? 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:56.300 I do not even remember Nick at Night in the early 90s. 00:02:56.359 --> 00:02:56.620 Okay? 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:58.319 But it was around. 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:03.300 Nevertheless, I did some research on Nick at Night as I was preparing for this message. 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:09.719 And back in 1984, there were several shows that began airing on Nick at Night. 00:03:09.820 --> 00:03:21.800 If you do not know what Nick at Night is, it was a time slot on Nickelodeon in the evening where they would show shows that were geared towards adults or older ones. 00:03:22.480 --> 00:03:26.240 Back in the day, they aired the Mary Tyler Moore show. 00:03:26.540 --> 00:03:26.939 All right? 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:29.800 I won't make you raise your hand if anybody remembers that show. 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:35.280 But there was also I Love Lucy, Dennis the Menace, all the black and white stuff. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:35.740 All right? 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:39.240 Back then, I heard that the world wasn't black and white. 00:03:39.380 --> 00:03:42.900 It wasn't until color television came around that the world began to be in color. 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:43.500 All right? 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:43.780 No. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.880 But back then, there were several good shows. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.040 And as time evolved, so did Nick at Night. 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:58.739 I remember in my day, I remember watching Full House, the Cosby show, shows like that. 00:03:59.079 --> 00:04:02.959 I know Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was airing during my time as a child. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:03.539 All right? 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:05.840 So I'm not super old, but I am a little bit old. 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:06.139 Okay? 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:10.079 But as time has evolved, Nick at Night has become different. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.299 As a matter of fact, Nick at Night is actually still around. 00:04:13.579 --> 00:04:15.000 That might shock you a little bit. 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:16.659 I didn't realize it was still a thing either. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:18.259 Because we all stream. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:19.240 I like streaming. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:20.500 I don't like to watch commercials. 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:23.579 So I don't actually have cable television. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:27.680 As I'm sure a lot of people in this room might not have cable television. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:37.180 And so, as I began to look, 2016 was about the peak or the beginning of the decline for Nick at Night. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:41.840 In 2016, there were showing different shows that you might have heard of. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:47.980 Everybody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens, Friends, different shows like that were airing back in 2016. 00:04:47.980 --> 00:04:54.560 And there were about 97 million people back in 2016 that watched Nick at Night. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:05:00.080 Fast forward to 2022, and that number has significantly decreased. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:09.140 Not just watching Nick at Night, but there were only about 65 million people that even had cable television to begin with back in 2022. 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:12.639 I couldn't find an exact number for this year to date. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:20.000 But if you could imagine, if there were only 65 million that had cable television, much less than that, were watching Nick at Night. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:23.399 And now Nick at Night is hanging by a thread. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:29.899 It is trying to air different shows, and nothing's really working because not a whole lot of people are watching it anymore. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:43.339 But as you notice, Nick at Night and anything dealing with Hollywood or anything in the entertainment business must evolve to meet the needs of the people. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:50.500 Because in 2026, I don't believe they're going to be showing the Mary Tyler Moore show. 00:05:50.659 --> 00:05:51.620 I just don't think they will. 00:05:51.979 --> 00:05:53.599 People don't like that anymore. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:55.100 New trends have come and gone. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:56.760 New shows have come and gone. 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:01.120 And that would not really appeal to the audience today. 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:11.820 Today, however, we are going to talk about a story, an instruction given from Jesus Christ that was true back in the Bible, and it is still true today. 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:13.140 It never changes. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:20.280 We are talking about the unchanging word of God, Jesus Christ, instruction in Nicodemus about salvation. 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:24.639 As things come and go, as change comes, I'm not a big fan of change. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:27.179 I don't like change very much, but the world is changing. 00:06:27.739 --> 00:06:29.179 Different trends come and go. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:34.679 I'll do six, seven of my teenagers now, and they look at me like I'm not cool because that was totally two weeks ago. 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:36.419 Now they do some scuba thing. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:38.459 I don't even know what they do now, all right? 00:06:38.919 --> 00:06:39.719 It changes. 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:40.899 Things come and go. 00:06:42.179 --> 00:06:46.859 But the message that we are going to look at today does not change. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:53.080 The message that Christ has given us today on salvation does not change. 00:06:54.580 --> 00:06:57.960 And Nick at Nights was around for about 42 years. 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:02.420 The message of salvation has been from the beginning of time. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:05.460 We need to accept Christ as our personal Savior. 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:06.520 It doesn't matter who you are. 00:07:06.840 --> 00:07:07.800 It doesn't matter what you do. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.960 It doesn't matter how much you volunteer at the church. 00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:12.900 It doesn't matter if you're a Sunday school teacher, a pastor. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.879 That is not good enough to get you into heaven. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:19.639 That is not good enough to get you eternal life. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:21.639 And that's what we are going to look at today. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:25.420 The salvation message that never changes. 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:30.659 And first of all, I see here a religious man in the dark. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:32.360 A religious man in the dark. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:38.259 I find it very ironic that it is at nighttime that Nicodemus comes to Christ. 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:39.079 You know why? 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:41.079 Not just because it was physically dark. 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:46.259 But Nicodemus' soul was spiritually dark. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.680 By the way, let's read the first two verses of John 3 and then we'll discuss this farther. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:51.139 It says, 00:07:51.139 --> 00:08:12.579 Just to paint you a picture of who Nicodemus was, Nicodemus was a top dog in the temple. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:17.860 He was one of those guys that knew the Bible frontwards and backwards. 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:19.060 He knew it well. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:21.420 He knew all of Christ's teachings. 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:22.620 He knew everything. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.020 But he knew he was missing something. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.480 Nicodemus was a great man. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:32.159 People looked up to him all over the temple, I'm sure. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.460 But Nicodemus realized he was missing something. 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:39.379 Letter A under this religious man in the dark. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:41.860 He had an impressive position. 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:48.960 Nicodemus was a guy that you looked at him and you said, man, that guy has everything. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:53.940 Let me just tell you, just because you're a deacon, just because you're a Sunday school teacher, 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:59.759 just because everybody looks highly on you in the church does not give you salvation. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:06.480 It doesn't mean you're saved just because of what you do in the church, just because how much you give every month. 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:08.299 That has nothing to do with salvation. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:08.840 It doesn't. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.899 God's told us to do many things. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.200 God's got commands in the Bible. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:21.019 But command number one, he said the only way, the only way to accept Christ is to believe by faith on Jesus Christ. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.179 And that's what he's trying to tell Nicodemus here. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:26.939 Nicodemus knows he's missing something. 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:33.079 Ruler of the Jews, teacher in the temple, had everything together and he was still missing something. 00:09:33.339 --> 00:09:39.439 Let me just tell you this morning, doesn't matter what role you have in the church, this is the most important part of it. 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:41.899 Don't miss this like Nicodemus did. 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:48.799 Nicodemus went his whole life studying the Bible, doing things that were right and he was still missing something. 00:09:49.339 --> 00:09:50.259 Don't miss salvation. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:57.220 Just because of who you are and what you portray to be, don't say, well, everybody else assumes I'm saved. 00:09:57.439 --> 00:09:58.819 That's not going to get you into heaven. 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:04.559 One day when God looks at you in the face and says, why should I let you into heaven? 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:07.340 Don't be the one saying, well, I volunteered at the church. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.059 Well, I was a Sunday school teacher. 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.939 Well, I did everything right, God. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.419 That's why you should let me in. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:14.580 He's going to say, depart from me for I never knew you. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.740 Because you missed it, just like Nicodemus did. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:27.019 The poorest person in here, the richest person in here, the person that knows the most about the Bible down to the person who knows the least. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.659 None of that matters. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.319 All that matters is you accepting Christ by faith. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.799 And that's what Christ is trying to tell Nicodemus here. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.720 Nicodemus has missed something, as smart as he is. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:42.740 If he walked through the back doors today, he'd be the smartest guy in the room. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.259 He would. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.100 He'd be a whole lot smarter than me. 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:48.340 But he still missed the most important part. 00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:51.080 So first of all, I see he had an impressive position. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:54.259 Secondly, I see he had an impressive reputation. 00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:57.740 Everybody knew Nicodemus was a Christian. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.759 Everybody knew Nicodemus had it all right. 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:05.200 When you look at Nicodemus, man, he's the guy you want to model your life after. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.379 That's the guy. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:09.259 If I'm a Christian, I want to be more like Nicodemus. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:13.340 I see several men in the Bible, first of which Ananias. 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.240 I preached on Ananias a long time ago. 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:21.039 Ananias was a man that was a church-going member, a strong member. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.019 Maybe he taught a Sunday school class. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:28.840 But him and his wife had this plan to basically steal from God. 00:11:30.319 --> 00:11:33.840 Ananias had it all in his head and knew everything he was supposed to do. 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:37.159 Knew how to be a good Christian. 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:40.659 And it didn't matter because he missed the most important part. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:46.699 Judas walked with Jesus Christ day in and day out. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:47.879 Judas Iscariot. 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.279 And he is known for betraying Christ. 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:54.819 Not that he didn't know how to be a good Christian. 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:56.419 I have a feeling. 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:59.819 I don't know what a lot of people do outside of these walls. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.620 I don't know. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.740 I don't know how you act. 00:12:01.819 --> 00:12:02.939 I don't know what kind of person you are. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:07.460 But when I see you in church, I see a person that is trying to do the right thing. 00:12:07.520 --> 00:12:08.800 That wants to be a good Christian. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.100 But let me just tell you, that doesn't matter. 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:15.000 It doesn't matter how high of a level of a Christian you think you are. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:19.120 If you miss this part, my friends, you're not saved. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.660 You don't have Christ. 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:23.280 That's what Christ is going to try to get across to Nicodemus. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.980 All of this doesn't matter. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:31.120 This stuff that you have, these things that you do, the things that you do for the church, none of it matters. 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:33.539 All of those things are good things, Nicodemus. 00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:35.100 But it's not getting you into heaven. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.360 It's not going to work. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.460 It's not. 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:42.659 Not only does he have an impressive position, an impressive reputation, 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:47.800 but thirdly, he had an incomplete understanding. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:52.460 He thought he knew everything, but he missed one part. 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:57.040 I was a school teacher, as most of you know. 00:12:57.540 --> 00:13:00.780 And I taught sixth grade, and I taught high school English. 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:02.540 And you know what was crazy? 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:06.460 In a Christian school, there were some kids, man, that were just super smart. 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:10.780 I could gloss over the material, and man, they could get their work done with no help from me. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:15.740 And then there were some that I really had to work hard. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.580 I had to beat the book over their head so they would get the information. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:27.759 There was a girl in my sixth grade class, my first year teaching, that really tried my patience. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:33.300 Not because she was bad, but because she was not understanding what I was trying to teach her. 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.280 I'm very good at math. 00:13:34.520 --> 00:13:35.259 Very good at math. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:36.020 I love numbers. 00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:40.759 And I had several in that sixth grade class that were math whizzes. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.259 They were very good at math. 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.540 I didn't even have to teach the material. 00:13:43.660 --> 00:13:46.379 They could see the steps and do it on their own. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:49.379 But one girl could not do that. 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:51.720 I would try to teach her certain things. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.379 She was very bad at fractions. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.700 Couldn't do fractions. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.899 Didn't understand why. 00:13:56.340 --> 00:14:04.100 And man, I would go through step by step by step how to convert fractions to numbers and vice versa. 00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:07.759 And then I would make her do the exact same thing that I just did. 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.419 And she would do it wrong every single time. 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:13.480 And it drove me up a wall. 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.700 She would come to before school tutoring. 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:17.639 She would come to after school tutoring. 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:23.920 I would spend forever trying to get it through to her how to do this math. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.259 It didn't make any sense to me because I knew how to do it. 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.600 The other kids knew how to do it. 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:28.840 Why couldn't she? 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:32.740 That's what makes Jesus Christ such a great teacher. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:38.240 Because he is able to dumb it down for whoever needs to hear the gospel. 00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:39.639 Christ is able to give it to him. 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.600 And what's amazing is Nicodemus was brilliant. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.799 And Christ still had to dumb down the gospel for him. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:50.340 Christ had to show him that you're missing the main point. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:52.340 Don't miss the main point this morning. 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:54.600 It's not good enough to know about Jesus. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.779 It's not good enough to know what he does. 00:14:57.319 --> 00:15:01.659 We need to know to meet Jesus in our hearts. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:06.819 That is the only thing that is going to give us that complete understanding. 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:12.240 And then finally under this point he came under the cover of darkness. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.200 Nicodemus was scared. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:17.500 Nicodemus was very uncertain. 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.900 Nicodemus was confused. 00:15:20.160 --> 00:15:20.920 He was ashamed. 00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:21.840 He didn't know what to do. 00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:22.879 He came to Jesus at night. 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:25.900 But here is where I got to give props to Nicodemus. 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:29.100 At least he came. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:34.180 Some of us in here might have been struggling with the salvation for a very long time. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.360 You sit in your pew every single service. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.800 Every time the doors are open you're here. 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:41.180 But you know deep down that you're not saved. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.740 You've never realized your need for salvation. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.840 And you've sat in your seat for so long. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:49.039 Today you're going to have another opportunity to come. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.940 We don't know when that's going to end. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.980 We don't know when those opportunities are going to run out. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.279 Why don't we make that today? 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.779 That's what Christ is telling Nicodemus. 00:15:57.539 --> 00:16:00.180 Don't lose out on this opportunity Nicodemus. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.420 He came. 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:04.720 This might have been Nicodemus' only shot. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:06.879 We'll speak on it here in just a moment. 00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:09.759 We don't know the ending to Nicodemus. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:15.320 We don't know if Nicodemus eventually realized he needed to be born again. 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.379 We don't know. 00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:19.040 Christ left us on a cliffhanger here. 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.779 But I can tell you one thing. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.620 Christ showed that he needed it. 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.300 Don't wait. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.639 Don't wait. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.279 It doesn't matter if everybody assumes you're saved. 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:33.019 It doesn't matter if everybody in this building when you come forward for salvation today are shocked. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.240 That doesn't matter. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:38.399 It's better to come forward now than to be standing in the presence of God Almighty. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.720 And God to say depart from me for I never knew you. 00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:45.299 Because of the kind of person that you are. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.340 Because you're highly looked upon in the church. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:51.819 Don't let that deter you from coming to Christ today. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:55.120 Nicodemus was probably real embarrassed. 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:59.879 Nobody in this church is as high up as Nicodemus was in the temple. 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.640 Nobody is. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.379 He was embarrassed. 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.980 Don't be embarrassed to come. 00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:06.220 Just come. 00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.519 Don't be scared. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.820 Come today. 00:17:09.080 --> 00:17:10.360 We're going to have an altar that's open. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:15.660 We're going to have people down here that can show you by the word of God what you need to do to be saved. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.000 Just come. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.259 You know the hardest step? 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.599 The first one. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:27.220 So first I see a religious man who is in the dark. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:31.960 Secondly I see a radical message about new birth. 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:34.660 A radical message about new birth. 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:37.559 And it says in John chapter number 3 verse 3. 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:39.180 Jesus answered and said unto him. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:41.059 Verily, verily, I say unto thee. 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.680 Except a man be born again. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:46.220 He cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.200 Nicodemus saith unto him. 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.920 How can a man be born when he is old? 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:56.920 Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born as smart as Nicodemus is? 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:59.339 He was a real bonehead here. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.539 He was not getting what Christ was trying to teach him. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.339 He said you got to be born again. 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.940 You have to know all these steps. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.620 This is what you need, Nicodemus. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.039 Don't look past it. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.799 You need a rebirth. 00:18:11.120 --> 00:18:12.140 Nicodemus doesn't get it. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:15.279 Here's where we see another part of his incomplete understanding. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:18.480 He's not getting what Christ is telling him. 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.460 He doesn't get it. 00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:22.480 He's still missing the main point. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.639 So in verse number 5. 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:27.539 Jesus has to dumb it down like Nicodemus is 5 years old. 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:29.079 And it says in verse 5. 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.899 Jesus answered. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.819 Verily, verily, I say unto thee. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:34.500 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit. 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:38.160 He cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:40.639 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.619 And that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:45.039 Marvel not that I said unto thee. 00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:47.219 Ye must be born again. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.599 The wind bloweth where it listeth. 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:51.199 And now hearest the sound thereof. 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:53.319 But canst not tell whence it cometh. 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:54.839 And whither it goeth. 00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:58.359 So is everyone that is born of the spirit. 00:18:58.459 --> 00:19:01.199 The first thing I notice here under this radical message. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.619 Is the new birth is necessary. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.619 The new birth is necessary. 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.299 Necessary. 00:19:08.959 --> 00:19:10.079 I notice this. 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:13.839 Many people talk about salvation as a change. 00:19:14.659 --> 00:19:16.439 From one way to another way. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.479 Salvation does not bring change. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.039 Let's just get that out there. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.159 Salvation doesn't bring change. 00:19:21.459 --> 00:19:23.679 You say well what does salvation bring if it doesn't bring change? 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.500 Salvation should be regeneration. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:29.839 You are one person that is becoming an entirely new creature. 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.699 The old man has passed away. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.439 The new man has come. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:35.659 We should be a new creature. 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:39.360 We should be transformed into something different. 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:43.480 Religion can change me. 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:48.400 Religion by the way can make me a pretty good moral person. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.519 It can change my actions. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.680 But salvation transforms me. 00:19:54.560 --> 00:19:59.700 Salvation should transform my life to one person into a new person. 00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:02.560 Brother Tyler man he's a great preacher. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:06.879 He can get up here and give us great things that we can use on a weekly basis. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:10.919 We can go out in the world and use it and live for Christ. 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:15.940 But if all we get is the truth that he's giving. 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.639 We go out and try to live it. 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.559 But we never have salvation. 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:23.879 We're trying to change an old filthy man that cannot be changed. 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.740 You know why? 00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:27.119 Because the flesh lives in sin. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:29.839 The flesh desires to sin. 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:32.799 And if we are trying to change that man it can't be done. 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:35.479 We are always going to come back to that sinful man. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:39.159 We're always going to come back to the one that has lust. 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:40.079 That has desire. 00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:44.319 And that's what Christ is saying here in verse number 3. 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:49.719 Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:51.839 Not that he may not. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.220 Not that he probably won't. 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.660 He cannot. 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:58.880 There are some politicians out there right now. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:02.100 You probably know who I'm speaking of when I tell you this. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:05.860 A man running for the senate that has famously said there are several. 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.299 There are many ways for salvation. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.640 You can get saved in many different ways. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.319 Many avenues. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.779 He said many crazy things. 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:15.079 But that is one of the biggest ones that stuck out to me. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.640 You know why? 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:17.240 That's what a false teacher says. 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:20.759 That's somebody that has not read the word of God. 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:24.380 And if he has he's going completely contrary to it. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:33.259 Because in my Bible verse number 3 says that you cannot see the kingdom of God if you are not born again. 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:38.039 If you do not put your saving faith in Jesus Christ it cannot be done. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.480 Doesn't matter who you are. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.359 Doesn't matter where you've come from. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:43.359 Doesn't matter if you've grown up in church your whole life. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.339 Or you just came off the streets today. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.700 That doesn't matter. 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:49.279 Or everybody needs to put their saving faith in Christ. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.480 It's not for a few. 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:55.380 It's not just for those that are lost that are coming here. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.480 Our members, most of our members are saved. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.980 We don't know that. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.860 We look at people and I say well I think they're saved. 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:04.779 Your salvation is between you and God. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:07.200 God's the only one who knows if you're saved. 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:11.380 You're the only one if you know if you've actually transformed into a new individual. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.319 The new birth is necessary. 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:15.720 By the way you can't live this life alone either. 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:18.500 Nicodemus was trying to do everything in his own power. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:21.259 Everything that he could do he had done. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.779 And he was still missing something. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:29.679 There was a young man when my parents were youth helpers at my old church. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.980 And there was a young man in the youth department. 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.919 His name I believe I could get this wrong. 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.119 They'll tell me I got it wrong later. 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:38.019 I think his name was Philip. 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.500 He was a Filipino young man. 00:22:40.219 --> 00:22:46.479 And I remember my parents always trying to reach him with the gospel. 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:48.079 He came to church almost every Sunday. 00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:48.879 He came on the bus. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:54.039 And multiple times my dad would tell him hey you really need to be saved. 00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:56.539 You really need Jesus Christ in your life. 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.359 Every time this is what he said. 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:01.939 I'm 85% sure I'm saved. 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.779 85%. 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.959 That's a pretty good number. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:06.840 But then he said but if I'm not. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:09.259 I think I can handle hell. 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.700 That's what he said. 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:13.900 He said man if I even if I'm not saved. 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:16.660 I think I can handle it. 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:20.660 Now obviously if I went person by person in the room today. 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:24.120 No one would say they think they can handle hell. 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:26.079 But every time you reject Christ. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:29.299 Every time you reject his salvation that he's offering you. 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:31.220 You're saying I can handle it. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:33.180 I've got it on my own. 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.480 I can do it. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.319 I don't need Christ. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.120 I've got it. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.680 We wouldn't say that out loud. 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.559 But that's what we're saying. 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:40.100 Every time we reject his salvation. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:42.160 It's a free gift that he's offering. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.920 That's all he said. 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.200 He said just come to me. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.019 You can accept me. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.420 You need this rebirth. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.900 It's essential to you being saved. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:54.579 Believe by faith on me and you can be saved Nicodemus. 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:57.919 It's as simple as that. 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:01.799 But there are so many people that think they've got it. 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.639 They can handle it. 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.359 That's a pretty scary story to me. 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:08.439 Of a person that actually says I can handle hell. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.740 But as people man I've got an ego. 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:12.059 I like to be right all the time. 00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:14.480 Normally when I get in a disagreement with my wife. 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.859 It's because I've got an ego. 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.759 And I don't want to be wrong. 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.779 Even if I know I'm wrong. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.799 I'll still argue my point. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.599 I don't like to be wrong. 00:24:20.659 --> 00:24:21.259 I've got an ego. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:23.359 That's what so many of us have. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.559 And that's what keeps us from coming to Christ. 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:29.960 Because I don't want to know what somebody else thinks of me. 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.660 Everybody thinks I'm saved already. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.299 Everybody knows I'm saved. 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.500 I can't go forward. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:38.559 Man going forward is for people that are new. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.539 That are visitors. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.220 Everybody knows I'm saved. 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.240 I can't go forward now. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.420 Nicodemus was in the same spot. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:47.720 He said everybody knows I'm saved. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:49.359 Everybody knows who I am. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:52.179 Everybody's got an idea of what kind of a man I am. 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:53.399 I can't do it. 00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:56.439 But that first step is the hardest. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.279 And that's what he had to make. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:01.539 He had to make that first step to come to Christ. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:03.219 So not only is the new birth necessary. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.859 The new birth is spiritual. 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:08.219 And this is the part that he missed. 00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:09.519 He didn't realize. 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:11.839 He thought it was two physical births. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.579 That didn't sound good. 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.879 Why would I want to be born again? 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:17.679 That's wild. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.820 I don't know about you. 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.720 But I don't want to be physically born again. 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.080 It didn't make any sense to him. 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:25.440 So Christ had to dumb it down a little bit and say listen. 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:27.740 Your first birth was great. 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:30.500 The only birth that matters though is your spiritual one. 00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:32.460 Because if you don't have a spiritual birth. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.860 A spiritual rebirth. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.440 You will be spending forever one day in a place called hell. 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:43.320 Because you just rejected what God was offering you. 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.840 I would never reject a free gift. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:49.779 I would never reject something that somebody is giving to me. 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:53.000 If somebody came up and handed something to me. 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:54.119 Doesn't matter what it is. 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.419 It can be a little twig. 00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:55.899 Alright. 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.779 You're giving it to me. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.179 It's free. 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.899 I'll take it. 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.439 I like free things. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:02.039 Not much in life is free. 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.019 But salvation is. 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:07.439 Not much in life can be gotten so easily as salvation. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:14.059 Then why do we fight against salvation so hard as we do? 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.539 Nicodemus. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.840 Man he was convicted. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.820 I imagine he'd been thinking about it for a long time and he fought it. 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:22.019 He said I can't do that. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.500 Everybody knows who I am. 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:25.059 I don't want to do that. 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.620 Everybody thinks I'm saved. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.500 Everybody knows I'm saved. 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:27.980 I don't. 00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:29.740 I can't go to Christ. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.580 And he finally took that first step. 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.700 Why don't you take that first step today? 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:38.360 That first step out of the aisle and say man it's my day. 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.940 I want salvation. 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:45.559 A long time ago at my old church there was a man. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.720 His name was Joe. 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.319 Back then he was living the right way. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.840 He was actually an usher. 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:54.160 He was a teacher. 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.519 He was doing everything the right way. 00:26:56.740 --> 00:27:00.279 And I remember one Sunday he came forward and got saved. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.680 And I thought about it. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.740 As a I was probably in seventh or eighth grade. 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.080 And I said. 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:09.100 Why is he doing that? 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:11.680 Why is he coming forward and getting saved? 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.620 Why would he do that? 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:15.519 And he realized he was living a lie. 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:18.640 He was living a life that looked great. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.400 But it was without the Holy Spirit. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.880 It was without Christ. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.420 He never asked Christ into his heart. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:26.340 He never realized his need for salvation. 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:28.200 He was living the right kind of life. 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:32.120 But he realized what he was doing was fake. 00:27:32.860 --> 00:27:33.920 It was a lie. 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:38.480 I mentioned this in Sunday school this morning with my teens. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.840 You know there's two places that we can be. 00:27:41.080 --> 00:27:42.100 We can't be right in the middle. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:45.580 You can either be all in with the flesh or all in with the spirit. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:49.240 But so many of us want to hold on to the flesh. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.899 And then come to church. 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.699 And act like the spirit. 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:55.059 And we missed Christ. 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.500 We missed salvation. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.539 Because we wanted to live life our way. 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:01.579 The new birth is transformational. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:06.059 It should transform your life. 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.480 And then finally under this point. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.619 The new birth is the work of God. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:13.159 The new birth is the work of God. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.240 I love when Christ uses illustrations. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.700 Because they're way better than anything I can come up with. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.639 It says in verse number 8. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.460 The wind bloweth where it listeth. 00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:22.179 And now hears the sound thereof. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:24.359 But canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:27.379 So is everyone that is born of the spirit. 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:29.779 You've heard this illustration many times I'm sure. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.259 You can't see the wind outside. 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.240 What can you see though? 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.500 The effects of the wind. 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:35.539 You can see the trees blowing. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.639 You can see flags blowing. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.960 You can see the effects of the wind. 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:42.639 You should be able to see the effects the spirit is having on your life. 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:46.159 You should be able to see the work of God through your life. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:48.639 If you are not producing that fruit. 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:52.440 If you are not showing the effects of what the spirit is doing in your life. 00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:55.059 You might need to reevaluate things this morning. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:58.720 I am not preaching this message to get you to doubt your salvation. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:03.639 I am preaching this message because there are some I'm sure in the midst of us. 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:06.759 That think they are good enough to get there. 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:08.020 Even if they wouldn't say it. 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:11.160 That think maybe they have done enough here to get there. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.320 And salvation. 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:14.300 I just don't want to take that step. 00:29:15.060 --> 00:29:16.780 I just don't want to go for it. 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:17.040 I just. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.940 I can't. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.460 Do it. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.399 Today. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:25.579 If you think somebody is going to look at you and laugh at you and say man I thought he was already saved. 00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:27.180 Why is he going down today? 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.940 That's just not the case. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:32.139 The greatest day in heaven is when one more soul. 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.379 Comes to him. 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:37.140 I don't care who you are this morning. 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:41.500 I don't care how shocked everybody is to see you come walk down the aisles. 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:46.320 If you have never experienced the rebirth that Jesus is offering. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.960 You need to get that right today. 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.100 And third. 00:29:50.260 --> 00:29:51.980 This is one of the most important parts. 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:55.460 A remedy that was sent down from heaven. 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:59.600 A remedy that was sent down from heaven. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:04.759 Every sickness needs some type of cure. 00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:07.359 Or we hope there is some type of cure for every sickness. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:10.919 My kids had a hand foot and mouth disease. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.539 Right. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:16.099 And they told us the only thing that will help them is basically time. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:18.019 You can give them Tylenol, Ibuprofen. 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:19.219 That will help with the pain. 00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:21.879 But nothing besides time can actually fix it. 00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:25.000 There's no medicine that will make it go away. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.019 And I hate that. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:29.519 I hate my kids hurting and not knowing what's going on. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:33.279 But they've got a sickness that just medicine isn't really going to do it. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:41.799 But today we are overcome by a deadly, deadly disease. 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.859 It's called sin. 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:49.799 But God has put the medicine on the table. 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:53.740 He's put the remedy for it on the table. 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:55.720 And we have to take it. 00:30:55.720 --> 00:31:00.860 If I was undergoing a very severe disease. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:04.019 I had encephalitis when I was 13 years old. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.880 Pretty severe encephalitis. 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:08.700 There was no medication that could help me. 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:14.319 But let's just say a doctor had created a medicine to give me. 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:16.420 And said there's no side effects. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:18.819 All it's going to do is take it away. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:22.679 How foolish would I have been to say, I don't want to do it. 00:31:23.439 --> 00:31:25.579 I'm okay living the life that I'm living. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:27.379 I'm okay where I'm at. 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.960 I don't need that. 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:32.039 I don't need what you've got to heal me. 00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:33.539 I don't need any of that. 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.159 I'm cool being sick. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.139 I'm okay right where I'm at. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:38.740 I know it might take my life. 00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:39.819 But I'm good. 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:47.379 But Jesus uses an Old Testament account that Nicodemus finally understood here. 00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:53.220 It says in verse number 9, Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be? 00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:56.220 Jesus answered and said unto him, art thou a master of Israel? 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.799 And no, it's not these things. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:32:04.139 I find it very funny when I see that Jesus Christ was a little bit sarcastic and a little bit sassy himself. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:10.700 He's tried to explain to Nicodemus two different times in two different ways that he should have understood at some point. 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:13.620 Nicodemus still hasn't got it. 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:18.720 So he pivots to something that he knows Nicodemus should understand. 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:25.259 It says in verse number 11, verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen. 00:32:25.540 --> 00:32:27.100 And ye receive not our witness. 00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:33.840 If I have told you earthly things and you believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:35.740 He says, I've told you earthly things. 00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:37.139 I've told you heavenly things. 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:39.539 Where else do you want me to go, Nicodemus? 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:46.359 Verse 13, and no man hath ascended up unto heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, which is in heaven. 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:52.939 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:54.740 In the camp of the Israelites. 00:32:54.959 --> 00:32:56.699 This is the illustration that Christ uses. 00:32:57.059 --> 00:33:01.439 He says the Israelites were overcome with serpents, were bitten by poisonous snakes. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:04.759 And God gave them the only way out. 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.559 Moses held up a brazen serpent. 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:11.980 All they had to do to get healed was to look on that brazen serpent and believe that God would heal them. 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.660 Not everybody did it, by the way. 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:19.420 There were still some that died because of the snake's venom. 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:23.580 All because they just didn't believe what God said he would do. 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:27.440 We're like the children of Israel sometimes, and that's what Christ is telling Nicodemus. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.000 Nicodemus. 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.980 He held up Christ on the cross. 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.759 He said, I gave you everything. 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:38.860 I gave you what you needed for salvation, and you still, you just won't take a step out in the aisle. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:46.539 You just won't go to somebody and ask them about salvation because we're so egotistical, we're so stubborn in our ways, 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:49.120 that we're okay right where we're at. 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.580 I got it. 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:53.400 I can handle it. 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:56.440 The people were dying here in this camp. 00:33:56.440 --> 00:34:03.140 They were dying just like sin has taken over the world, and there are people dying every day because of their sin. 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:05.559 Sin will rot you to the core. 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:09.039 Sin will take you way farther than you ever want to go. 00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:12.679 Sin is a very deadly pandemic. 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:16.400 Pandemic is not a great word to use now after 2020. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:20.440 We all remember the COVID-19 pandemic, right? 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:22.179 It was a terrible time in our history. 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:26.679 Let me just tell you, sin is much more dangerous than any virus could ever be. 00:34:27.359 --> 00:34:31.919 Sin is much more dangerous than any disease could ever be. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:39.079 And the crazy thing is, as deadly as sin is, Christ, or God, gave us a cure. 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:46.960 But if you've never received salvation this morning, you're saying, I don't need the cure. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:49.679 I'll take this deadly sin in my life. 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.599 I'll be okay. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:52.139 I'll get through it. 00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:55.460 Again, maybe you're not saying that out loud. 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:59.079 But in your heart, every time you reject Christ, that's what you're saying. 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:03.260 It's pretty hard to think about that if we're rejecting salvation. 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:07.400 If we're hearing God's word preached over and over and over again, we've never accepted Christ. 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:10.860 We are truly telling God, no. 00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:12.880 You've got a gift for me. 00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:14.200 I don't need it. 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:16.039 You've got a cure for my sin. 00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:19.519 I think I'm going to be okay. 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:26.400 And finally, under this point, the remedy must be received by faith. 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:28.180 You've got to put your faith in Christ. 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:33.860 Just as the children of Israel were supposed to look on that brazen serpent, believe God could heal them. 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:42.019 All you've got to do is look on Christ and believe by faith that he died on the cross for your sins and saved you. 00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:42.920 You can be saved. 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.440 That's it. 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.599 That's all you've got to do. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.599 Christ is offering it to us this morning. 00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:50.740 All you have to do is look on him and believe just like the children of Israel did. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:54.860 It would have been crazy for the children of Israel not to look on that brazen serpent. 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:59.140 God said, I'm going to heal you from the snake venom that's bitten you. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:01.420 And there were still some that said no. 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:04.680 Just like today, there's still some that are saying no. 00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.360 Don't be that one. 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.960 Don't be that one. 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:10.180 You never know how many opportunities you've got. 00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:13.119 You never know how many are going to come by the way. 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:18.480 Why don't we make today's opportunity today to be the day of salvation? 00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:20.019 Today's the day of salvation. 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.480 Tomorrow's never going to come. 00:36:21.740 --> 00:36:22.760 Yesterday's come and gone. 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:26.320 Today should be your day of salvation. 00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:32.220 And then finally, this is my favorite part of the message. 00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:36.100 A redeeming love for the whole world. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.539 Everybody knows John 3.16. 00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:41.000 I'm sure a lot of us can quote it. 00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:41.640 It says, 00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:58.239 I've discussed it with a few people. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:05.500 But this past week when Truett was having a seizure, he got like 104 fever on Tuesday. 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:08.239 And a couple hours later, he was having a febrile seizure. 00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:12.939 I didn't really know what a febrile seizure was until after it had happened. 00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:14.639 And I had it explained to me. 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:18.359 But I was sitting in the living room playing with Emerson. 00:37:18.879 --> 00:37:22.679 And all of a sudden, I hear my wife scream from the back bedroom. 00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:27.299 And I came in there and all Truett was doing was staring off into space. 00:37:27.339 --> 00:37:27.900 And that was it. 00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.779 Couldn't get his attention. 00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:35.019 And then all of a sudden, he closed his eyes and went limp, unresponsive, for about 10 minutes. 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:40.059 And I just remember thinking, I needed to do something. 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.739 This is my only son. 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:46.239 I would do anything to make sure that he gets the care he needs right now. 00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:52.439 I would have gone off the ends of the earth to make sure Truett got the care he needed. 00:37:54.099 --> 00:38:01.759 Now, obviously, I look back and see that those are a little bit more common today, the febrile seizures. 00:38:01.899 --> 00:38:03.939 But at the moment, man, I didn't know what was going on. 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:06.739 I didn't know if Truett was about to pass away. 00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:07.519 I didn't know. 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:08.339 I had no idea. 00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:12.019 And then as I was studying for this message, I thought about it. 00:38:13.160 --> 00:38:14.559 I'd do anything for Truett. 00:38:15.660 --> 00:38:16.800 God sent his son. 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:20.220 You know what the only purpose God sent his son for? 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:22.280 Was to die for you. 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.420 That was it. 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:30.220 I'm sure most parents will understand the love that parents have for their children. 00:38:30.219 --> 00:38:34.099 God loved Jesus Christ, and he sent him to die for you. 00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:37.359 So let me ask you, think about your love for your child. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:41.899 God's love was much more than ours for his child. 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.259 Get this. 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.419 He had him die for you. 00:38:45.919 --> 00:38:47.199 How much does he love you? 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:52.159 How much could he possibly love you if he sent his son to die for me? 00:38:52.899 --> 00:38:55.779 Man, his love for me must be running over. 00:38:55.859 --> 00:38:56.399 And it is. 00:38:57.579 --> 00:39:00.619 And it's pretty hard to believe that there are still people that are rejecting him. 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:07.019 That somebody that loves you so much, loves you more than any other person in the world. 00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:08.639 And we reject him. 00:39:09.259 --> 00:39:11.920 We say, no, I don't think I need it today. 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:13.599 I'm doing all the right things. 00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:15.440 I'm a Sunday school teacher. 00:39:15.659 --> 00:39:16.199 I'm a deacon. 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:17.280 I'm doing the right stuff. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:18.759 I'm in the right place. 00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:20.860 Take that step forward today. 00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.259 Nicodemus had to come. 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:26.139 As we close, there's several things. 00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.739 The source of salvation was God. 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:29.800 God gave us the opportunity to be saved. 00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.960 God didn't have to do that. 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:35.340 By the way, our sin meant we deserved death and hell. 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:37.539 But God sent his son. 00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.240 God is the source of salvation. 00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:42.180 Secondly, the strength of salvation is God's love. 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:46.600 Love was the foundation of what God built salvation on. 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:50.920 In verse 16, it says, for God so loved the world. 00:39:51.120 --> 00:39:54.360 The only reason he sent his son is because he loved you. 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.680 He loved you. 00:39:57.600 --> 00:39:59.380 Thirdly, the sacrifice of salvation. 00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:00.640 There had to be a sacrifice. 00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:05.440 And God sent his son to be that sacrifice for you. 00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:07.219 And finally, this is the best part. 00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.799 The scope of salvation. 00:40:10.319 --> 00:40:10.719 Whosoever. 00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:13.559 Doesn't matter where you've been. 00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:15.119 Doesn't matter who you are. 00:40:15.839 --> 00:40:18.839 You've got the opportunity to accept Christ's salvation today. 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:22.079 Don't be so stubborn that you say, man, I'm doing the right things. 00:40:22.179 --> 00:40:23.039 Everybody thinks I'm safe. 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:24.019 I'm not going to come now. 00:40:24.219 --> 00:40:25.119 I'll do it later. 00:40:25.319 --> 00:40:26.519 I'll do it in private. 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:27.960 I don't want to come right now. 00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:29.720 Take that step, man. 00:40:30.460 --> 00:40:36.380 Don't walk away from this church service not knowing Christ. 00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:37.420 Don't do it. 00:40:38.340 --> 00:40:47.280 It's a very, very narrow, narrow rope to walk when you, again, reject another opportunity that Christ has given you. 00:40:49.380 --> 00:40:52.619 As we close, come out of the night today. 00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:54.079 Don't stay in the darkness. 00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.599 Do what Nicodemus did. 00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:59.339 He was in a dark place and he knew he had to come. 00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:03.659 Like I said, we don't know the finality of where Nicodemus ended up. 00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:06.400 But I do know he had to take that first step first. 00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:07.900 Take that first step. 00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:09.380 Don't sit in your seat. 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.299 Don't stay in your seat. 00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:15.500 If you're not saved, if you've never accepted Christ's salvation, come today. 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:16.880 Don't wait. 00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:19.679 Go ahead and bow your heads and close your eyes. 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:22.639 As our musicians get in place. 00:41:22.639 --> 00:41:27.059 Why not make today the day of your salvation? 00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:29.379 Don't wait. 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:34.240 I don't play the lottery. 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:39.679 But if you are saying today, I'll wait and do it later. 00:41:40.299 --> 00:41:43.099 You are playing the lottery with your soul. 00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:45.099 And it's a dangerous outcome. 00:41:45.819 --> 00:41:50.539 Don't be the one sitting in your seat saying, man, I don't want everybody else to see that I'm going for it. 00:41:50.579 --> 00:41:51.539 Everybody thinks I'm saved. 00:41:51.739 --> 00:41:52.659 Don't be that one. 00:41:53.179 --> 00:41:53.739 Come today. 00:41:54.799 --> 00:41:56.079 Come accept Christ today. 00:41:56.079 --> 00:42:01.539 There are a couple people up here that can show you from the Bible how to be saved. 00:42:01.819 --> 00:42:03.840 But you've got to make that first step.