Breath Of Life
Ministries Presents:
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Sermon B564 "You
Must Be Born Again"
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[Breath of Life Theme Musicusic]
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PB:  Let's take our Bibles
and we're going to go to the
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book of John, chapter 3,
verse number 1. John chapter 3,
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verse number 1. John 3,
verse 1. The Word of God says,
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"There was a man of the
Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
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a ruler of the Jews: The
same came to Jesus by night,
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and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a
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teacher come from God: for
no man can do these miracles
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that thou doest, except
God be with him. Jesus answered
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and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
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Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God.
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Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is
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old? can he enter the second
time into his mother's womb, and
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be born? Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except
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a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into
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the kingdom of God. That which
is born of the flesh is flesh;
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and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not
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that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again."
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Father, speak to us
today, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Today we talk about Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was a big man,
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not necessarily in stature,
but he was a popular man.
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Nicodemus was an
influential man, a powerful man.
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Nicodemus was tough
stuff. Nicodemus was a bad boy.
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He was a member of the
Sanhedrin, which was the highest
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governing body of the entire
Jewish nation. The Sanhedrin,
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synonymous with our
modern-day United States Senate,
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was composed of 70 priests
plus some honored laity with
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members belonging to the
two major religious political
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parties, the Pharisees and
the Sadducees. But not only was
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Nicodemus a member of
the Sanhedrin--and remember,
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he was a bad boy--Nicodemus
was also a Pharisee.
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Now remember, most Pharisees
were intensely jealous of Jesus,
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because Jesus undermined
their authority and He
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challenged their views.
But Nicodemus was one who
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continued to search for
knowledge, and he believed
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that Jesus had some answers to
some questions he didn't know.
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So although he was rich,
although he was educated,
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although he was honored,
Nicodemus had been attracted
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to the teachings of Jesus and
he had a desire to learn more.
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First lesson today. I
don't care how intelligent
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you think you are. I
don't care how educated you are.
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Everybody can learn
something from somebody.
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Nobody knows it all. Do I
have a witness in this place?
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[Aud. reaction]   PB:  And
so even though Nicodemus was
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learned, smart, rich, even
he could learn something from
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somebody else. Nicodemus is
a teacher of both the law and
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religion, but yet the Bible says
he comes in the middle of the
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night- -Nick at night, if you
will--to seek an interview with
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Jesus. But why does Nick come at
night? Why does he have to come
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under the cloak of darkness?
Was it because he didn't want
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to follow his--he didn't want
his fellow Pharisees to know
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he was coming to see
Jesus because, after all,
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he's a prominent man, a teacher
of the law, well trained,
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well equipped for
teaching, so he probably came at
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night because it wouldn't
look good for him to acknowledge
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this untrained teacher.
But then maybe he came at night
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because he had some
questions that needed answers.
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So, because he needed some
quality time with Jesus alone,
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he came at night. He came
to be with Jesus personally.
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He wanted to speak and see
Jesus one-on-one. Jesus always
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had a crowd around him. Jesus
always had people around him,
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so nighttime allowed for
a long, private discussion.
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I believe, after
reading the chapter on Desire of
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Ages on Nicodemus, he
came for both reasons at night:
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his reputation and he
wanted Jesus' full attention.
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But look at verse 2. Look at it.
The Bible says Nicodemus said,
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"Rabbi"--stop. Rabbi
means a teacher from God. So,
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Nicodemus comes as one teacher
to another teacher, rabbi,
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and he comes respectively.
"Rabbi, we know that thou art
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a teacher come from God,"
verse 2 says, "for no man can
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do these miracles that thou
doest, except God be with him."
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But look at what Jesus
says in verse 3. The Bible says
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"Jesus answered."
Jesus what, everybody?
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PB:  Come on,
Jesus what, everybody?
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PB:  "Answered and said
unto him, Verily, verily,
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I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again,
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he cannot see the
kingdom of God." Now quickly,
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look at this text.
Notice, notice in this text,
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in Jesus' response to
Nicodemus, He never allowed
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Nicodemus to finish his
thought or ask the question
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that he was trying to
ask. Look at the text, friends.
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Nicodemus only got as
far as sating what he thought
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of Jesus and Jesus' ministry.
He only got to how Jesus
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was not only a teacher
of the law but how God was
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with Him at well. That's
it. Jesus stopped Nicodemus.
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Jesus interrupted Nicodemus
and answered his question
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before he even asked it.
Notice, it says Jesus answered.
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Jesus answered what?
Nicodemus never asked anything.
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There's no question. But
Jesus interrupts because He's
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teaching Nicodemus and
all of us one of the most
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profound truths about how one
can enter the kingdom of God.
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And the reason, friends,
that Jesus interrupted Nicodemus
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is because Jesus didn't have
to hear the question because
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He already knew what
was in Nicodemus's heart.
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Lesson number two: Jesus
knows what we need before we
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know we even need it. Jesus
answered and said, "Verily,
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verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be"--what, everybody?
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Born again. "He cannot
see"--notice the Bible does not
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say "he cannot enter." The Bible
says "He cannot see the kingdom
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of God." That's his disability,
he can't see it. We're going to
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get there in a minute. Now
remember, Jesus is speaking
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to a Pharisee. He's not speaking
to a publican or a prostitute.
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Jesus is speaking to "a
religious person." A religious
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teacher. He's speaking to
somebody who knows the law. He's
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saying, I don't care who you
are. I don't care who you know.
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He said, nobody can see
the kingdom unless they're born
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again. I don't care how
religious you think you are,
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I don't care how many
years you've been in the church,
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I don't care how many
generations you're in the
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church, I don't care how many
people you know in the church,
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I don't care how long
you've worked for the church.
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I don't care how
many degrees you have,
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how many letters you
have behind your name,
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how much money you
have or if you have the
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biggest house in the church.
Except a man be born again,
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he cannot enter and
see the kingdom of God.
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Do I have a witness
in this place? All right,
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so that's the
theology. Let me give you the
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practical application.
Everybody talking about heaven
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ain't going. Everybody talking
about Jesus ain't serving Jesus.
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Just because folk talk the talk
doesn't mean they walk the walk.
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Just because folk can quote
Scripture doesn't mean they
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live Scripture. Just
because folk talk about Jesus,
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sing about Jesus, study
about Jesus, teach about Jesus,
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and preach about Jesus
doesn't mean they know Jesus.
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Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom
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of heaven. Somebody
oughta shout right there.
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But let me go a little further.
Let me tell you something.
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One of the worst things that can
happen in the Christian life,
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one of the worst things that can
happen to a church like this,
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is spiritual stagnation.
Everybody say "spiritual
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stagnation. Aud.:  Spiritual
stagnation. PB:  What is that.
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That's no growth, no
development, no change, no
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power, no nothin', just going
through the motions. Just going
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through another cycle of
prayer meetings, Sabbath school
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lessons, missions stories.
Going through another cycle of
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church anniversaries,
youth days, senior adult days,
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__ days, education
days, graduations, revivals,
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Revelation
seminars, Communion services.
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Just going through the
motions. [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  Singing the same
songs, praying the same prayers.
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I know you don't like it,
I'm gonna preach it anyhow.
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Reciting the same
testimonies, just going through
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the motions.
Unresponsive to God's call,
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unmoved by God's claim,
unchanged by God's Spirit.
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No Holy Ghost fire, no
Pentecostal zeal, no energy,
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no enthusiasm, no
excitement. Just going through
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the motions. But Jesus
says, Brother Nicodemus,
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unless you see,
unless you're born again,
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you will not see
the kingdom of God.
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Are we so close to
Jesus that we can't see Jesus?
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Can't see what
He's doing in our lives.
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Can't see what He's
doing in other people's lives.
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Can't see what He's doing
in the life of the church.
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Do we talk about Jesus
so much that we don't even
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realize who Jesus is? Do
we talk about His miracles
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so much that we don't
realize when a real-life miracle
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is happening right now in our
lives? So what happens to us-
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-miracles become coincidences.
Coincidences become luck,
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and we're just
going through the motions.
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Nicodemus's weakness was
failing to realize that we
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are nothing without God.
Oh, let me say that again.
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Pastor Goodrich heard
me, but somebody else needs
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to hear me. We are nothing
without God.  [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  I've got two bachelor's
degrees, two master's degrees,
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a doctoral degree-all of them
earned. Nobody gave me anything.
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Do I have a witness in this
place? I have a beautiful wife,
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three beautiful children,
a wonderful church and a
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wonderful television
ministry, but guess what?
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I am nothing
without God. [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  'Cause you do
know, if I drop dead tomorrow
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they will get
somebody else up in here.
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[Aud. reaction] 
PB:  We do know that.
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Now, if they put
me in the casket,
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y'all better cry for
me. When I get to heaven,
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my wife's gonna tell
me y'all cried for me.
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[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
But you do understand,
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they will get somebody
up in here. I am nothing
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without God. You all
are nothing without God.
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There are people who
have more degrees than me,
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but they have no Holy
Ghost fire because they
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are nothing
without God. Without God,
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we're like
macaroni without cheese.
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Collard greens
without corn bread.
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Steak without potatoes.
All y'all ain't vegetarian.
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Come on, say
amen. [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  Fish without
chips, ackee without saltfish,
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rice without
peas, peas without rice.
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We are nothing
without God! Nicodemus was
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strong in
religion but weak in faith.
00:14:03.67\00:14:07.48
'Cause it's one
thing to be in church,
00:14:07.51\00:14:09.08
it's another
thing to be in Christ.
00:14:09.11\00:14:11.38
It's one thing to
be in the building,
00:14:11.41\00:14:13.15
it's another
thing to be in the body.
00:14:13.18\00:14:14.68
It's one thing to
be in the sanctuary,
00:14:14.72\00:14:15.85
it's another thing
to be in the Spirit.
00:14:15.88\00:14:17.12
Everybody that's in
church is not in God.
00:14:17.15\00:14:19.59
Everybody that knows
the Bible does not know God.
00:14:19.62\00:14:22.06
Everybody that has
religion does not have faith.
00:14:22.09\00:14:25.09
Can I be real? 'Cause
you know we've got graduates
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and camp meetings, I've
got to get it all in today.
00:14:28.80\00:14:30.60
Come on, say amen.
Jesus had more trouble getting
00:14:30.63\00:14:34.10
church folk to see
the kingdom of God than in
00:14:34.14\00:14:38.11
getting non-church
folk into following Him.
00:14:38.14\00:14:41.21
Which means, it's not
always the demons on the
00:14:41.24\00:14:44.41
outside that are the
problem, but the pretentious,
00:14:44.45\00:14:47.28
fake, phony angels on
the inside who are always
00:14:47.32\00:14:50.39
getting in God's
way. Preach, Pastor Byrd.
00:14:50.42\00:14:52.39
I'm doing the best I
can!  More concerned about
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tradition than truth,
more caught up in formality
00:14:55.59\00:14:57.99
than spirituality,
more concerned about custom
00:14:58.03\00:15:00.96
that creativity, more
concerned about policy
00:15:00.96\00:15:03.33
than people, more
concerned about dos and don'ts
00:15:03.37\00:15:06.03
than deliverance. More
concerned about the way
00:15:06.07\00:15:10.87
it used to be than
the way it ought to be.
00:15:10.91\00:15:13.51
We can be strongly
and staunchly religious
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to the detriment of
our spiritual sensitivity.
00:15:17.41\00:15:20.05
When was the last time
you were moved by a sermon?
00:15:20.08\00:15:23.79
When was the last time--somebody
say it's right now. Amen.
00:15:23.82\00:15:28.32
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
When was the last time you were
00:15:28.36\00:15:32.06
really touched by a
song? Inspired by a testimony?
00:15:32.09\00:15:37.90
If we're not careful,
the strength of our religion
00:15:37.93\00:15:40.60
can be the weakness of
our faith. Nicodemus was so
00:15:40.64\00:15:45.64
close to God that he
couldn't appreciate God.
00:15:45.67\00:15:49.91
Some of us are so close to
God, we can't appreciate God,
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what God has done, what
God is doing, what God will do.
00:15:54.62\00:15:57.99
Every time I come
through that gate and I see that
00:15:58.02\00:16:02.56
family life center going
up, I say to God be the glory!
00:16:02.59\00:16:06.53
Great things He hath
done. Nicodemus was so close
00:16:06.56\00:16:10.43
to the kingdom of God that he
couldn't see the kingdom of God.
00:16:10.47\00:16:14.04
He was too familiar
with the things of God to
00:16:14.07\00:16:16.97
feel the Spirit of
God.  Are we like Nicodemus?
00:16:17.01\00:16:22.61
Am I like Nicodemus?
Are so close to God that we
00:16:22.64\00:16:27.25
can't see what God is
doing? Do we know so much of
00:16:27.28\00:16:30.95
the Bible that we
really don't know Jesus?
00:16:30.99\00:16:33.29
Do we know the hymns
so well that we don't know
00:16:33.32\00:16:35.82
the God about whom
we're singing? You see,
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.79
Nicodemus flunked
the test because he was
00:16:38.83\00:16:41.53
too familiar with
the material. He was too
00:16:41.56\00:16:45.03
smart for his own
good. So Jesus says to him,
00:16:45.07\00:16:48.67
Nicodemus! Nicodemus!
You must be born again.
00:16:48.70\00:16:57.35
You've been in the Word,
but you don't know the Word.
00:16:57.38\00:17:01.05
You know the 23rd Psalm,
but you don't know the Shepherd.
00:17:01.08\00:17:04.65
You know the Lord's Prayer,
but you don't know the Lord.
00:17:04.69\00:17:07.52
You know the Ten
Commandments, you know the
00:17:07.56\00:17:09.89
fourth commandment, but
you don't know the Commander.
00:17:09.92\00:17:12.13
You must be born
again!   [Aud. reaction]
00:17:12.16\00:17:15.03
PB:  Now, the phrase "born
again"--everybody say "born
00:17:15.06\00:17:18.57
again." Aud.:  Born again.  PB:
 Can be translated several ways.
00:17:18.60\00:17:21.20
Some theologians say it
means to be born from above.
00:17:21.24\00:17:24.44
Everybody say "born from
above." Aud.:  [indiscernible]
00:17:24.47\00:17:26.68
PB:  Others say it means born
anew. Everybody say "born anew."
00:17:26.71\00:17:29.31
PB:  Now, both are
correct when you apply the
00:17:29.34\00:17:34.68
Greek in the text. But,
if Jesus spoke this text,
00:17:34.72\00:17:37.79
this verse, in Aramaic--which
is probably the case
00:17:37.82\00:17:40.12
because Aramaic was the
language spoken at this time-
00:17:40.16\00:17:43.56
-it would have been interpreted
as this: Except a man
00:17:43.59\00:17:45.73
has another birth, he will
never see the kingdom of God.
00:17:45.76\00:17:50.03
But either the Greek or
the Aramaic is acceptable
00:17:50.07\00:17:52.77
because the bottom
line is, friends of mine,
00:17:52.80\00:17:55.04
we can't see the
kingdom of God in our present
00:17:55.07\00:17:58.07
condition. A new
birth is required. And Jesus
00:17:58.11\00:18:03.91
makes it clear, He's not
talking about a physical birth,
00:18:03.95\00:18:08.35
but He's talking about a
spiritual birth. Verily, verily,
00:18:08.38\00:18:13.05
I say unto thee, except
a man be born of water and
00:18:13.09\00:18:18.23
of the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God.
00:18:18.26\00:18:21.70
He must be born again.
Born from above, and born anew.
00:18:21.73\00:18:28.50
What do we need,
church? What do we need,
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.47
old good Christians?
We need a brand-new start.
00:18:31.51\00:18:36.51
The old you must be done
away with before a new you
00:18:36.54\00:18:40.58
can be built. If any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature.
00:18:40.62\00:18:45.92
Old things are passed
away, all things become new.
00:18:45.95\00:18:50.19
But Nicodemus,
with all his degrees,
00:18:50.23\00:18:52.96
with all his
intellectual brilliance,
00:18:52.99\00:18:55.40
with all his
philosophical depth,
00:18:55.43\00:18:57.20
didn't understand how
one could be born again.
00:18:57.23\00:19:01.07
He didn't understand
what Jesus was talking about.
00:19:01.10\00:19:04.04
He didn't understand
how a man could be born
00:19:04.07\00:19:06.17
when he was old? How
could a man, the Bible says,
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.64
go back to his
mother's womb again? How could a
00:19:08.68\00:19:12.01
man go back to his
embryonic developmental stage?
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.25
Nicodemus said, Jesus,
that's why I came to you.
00:19:15.28\00:19:18.65
I came to you
because I do want to be new.
00:19:18.69\00:19:21.39
I want to be born again,
but how can I be born again?
00:19:21.42\00:19:26.49
How can I go back?
Jesus said, Nicodemus,
00:19:26.53\00:19:30.37
you don't know
what I'm talking about.
00:19:30.40\00:19:32.03
I'm not talking
about going backward,
00:19:32.07\00:19:33.54
I'm talking about going forward.
00:19:33.57\00:19:34.94
I'm not trying to reduce you,
00:19:34.97\00:19:36.30
I'm trying to increase you.
00:19:36.34\00:19:37.74
I'm not trying to subtract you,
00:19:37.77\00:19:39.04
I'm trying to add to
you. You must be born again.
00:19:39.07\00:19:42.14
But this time, you must be
born of water and of the Spirit,
00:19:42.18\00:19:46.51
because that which is
born of the flesh is flesh.
00:19:46.55\00:19:51.22
That which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
00:19:51.25\00:19:54.82
Flesh gives birth
to flesh. Spirit gives
00:19:54.86\00:20:00.13
birth to spirit.   Oh y'all
don't hear what I'm saying.
00:20:00.16\00:20:04.00
Flesh gives birth to flesh.
Spirit gives birth to spirit.
00:20:04.03\00:20:13.34
Physical birth had
limitations. It only gives
00:20:13.38\00:20:17.11
rise to that which is
earthy, but Jesus, in this text,
00:20:17.15\00:20:20.75
is talking about a spiritual
kingdom. The kingdom of God.
00:20:20.78\00:20:25.45
And spiritual birth is required
for entrance in that kingdom.
00:20:25.49\00:20:30.66
There needs to be, yes, a
natural birth before there
00:20:30.69\00:20:33.36
can be a spiritual
birth, but friends, you've got
00:20:33.40\00:20:35.53
to be born again. You've
got to be born from above,
00:20:35.56\00:20:38.83
and you've got to
be born anew before you
00:20:38.87\00:20:41.40
can get in God's kingdom.
 You see, the first time
00:20:41.44\00:20:43.77
you were born, you
were born into the family
00:20:43.81\00:20:45.34
of your surname. But the
second time you were born,
00:20:45.37\00:20:47.74
you were born into the
family of God. The first
00:20:47.78\00:20:50.15
time you were born, you
became a citizen of the U.S.
00:20:50.18\00:20:52.41
But the second time
you were born, you became a
00:20:52.45\00:20:54.22
citizen of God's kingdom.
The first time you were born,
00:20:54.25\00:20:56.58
you were eligible to
Social Security. The second
00:20:56.62\00:20:58.85
time you were born,
you became a recipient of
00:20:58.89\00:21:01.02
eternal security. The
first time you were born,
00:21:01.06\00:21:03.22
they wrote your name in
the United States Census.
00:21:03.26\00:21:05.43
The second time you
were born, you were written
00:21:05.46\00:21:07.30
in the Book of Life. The
first time you were born,
00:21:07.36\00:21:09.43
you became a living being.
The second time you were born,
00:21:09.46\00:21:13.00
you became a living soul.
The first time you were born,
00:21:13.03\00:21:15.04
you became an heir of
your family's inheritance,
00:21:15.07\00:21:17.37
but the second time you
were born, you became an
00:21:17.41\00:21:22.04
heir of salvation, purchased
of God, born of the Spirit,
00:21:22.08\00:21:27.48
washed in His blood.
You must be born again!
00:21:27.52\00:21:33.76
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Now, I'm about to take my seat;
00:21:33.79\00:21:38.33
I'm done. But there are
three things that keep us from
00:21:38.36\00:21:42.86
being born again. Three things.
How many things, everybody?
00:21:42.90\00:21:47.34
Aud.:  Three.  PB: 
Three. Number one, doubt.
00:21:47.37\00:21:49.84
Everybody say
"doubt."  Aud.: Doubt
00:21:49.87\00:21:51.41
PB:  We doubt the power
of God. We come down here
00:21:51.44\00:21:57.11
for prayer every Sabbath--going
through the motions.
00:21:57.15\00:21:59.28
We need prayer, I need
healing. But do we really
00:21:59.31\00:22:03.69
believe in the power
of God? Do we believe that
00:22:03.72\00:22:07.02
we've got power to
tread on serpents, that we've
00:22:07.06\00:22:09.96
got power to step on
demons. Do we believe that
00:22:09.99\00:22:13.96
we have power today.
We doubt the power of God.
00:22:14.00\00:22:18.27
We doubt the credibility
of God. We doubt the move
00:22:18.30\00:22:23.77
of God. We have become
desensitized to God's power,
00:22:23.81\00:22:28.24
and we think miracles were
only for the New Testament.
00:22:28.28\00:22:31.48
But that's when
our faith must kick in.
00:22:31.51\00:22:34.85
We must believe in a
God who can do things we
00:22:34.88\00:22:37.45
can't do, who can
hear things we can't hear,
00:22:37.49\00:22:40.66
who can see things we
can't see. Faith is the
00:22:40.69\00:22:43.79
substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of
00:22:43.83\00:22:46.63
things not seen. It is
impossible to please God
00:22:46.66\00:22:50.07
without faith,
because God is a rewarder of
00:22:50.10\00:22:52.77
those that diligently seek Him.
00:22:52.80\00:22:54.84
Can I confess? I'm not
up here just for a check.
00:22:54.87\00:22:58.71
'Cause they don't pay me
enough. Come on, say amen.
00:22:58.74\00:23:01.58
Aud.:  Amen.  PB:  But I
come up in here every Sabbath.
00:23:01.61\00:23:04.45
I come up here every
Wednesday. I come up here every
00:23:04.48\00:23:08.45
day during the week.
Some of y'all know what
00:23:08.48\00:23:10.12
I'm talking about. I
fly in and I come in just
00:23:10.15\00:23:12.69
to get church. Why?
Because I believe in a God
00:23:12.72\00:23:16.29
who can heal the sick.
I believe what I preach.
00:23:16.32\00:23:21.70
I believe in a God
who can raise the dead.
00:23:21.73\00:23:25.93
I believe in a God
who can cast out demons.
00:23:25.97\00:23:30.94
I believe in a God
who can meet my needs.
00:23:30.97\00:23:35.81
He woke me up this morning,
He started me on my way.
00:23:35.84\00:23:40.22
He put food on my table,
He put clothing on my back.
00:23:40.25\00:23:43.72
He allows me weekly to
get from point A to point B.
00:23:43.75\00:23:47.46
I believe in God.
Kept my lights on, kept my
00:23:47.49\00:23:51.26
children in church
school, paid the tuition when
00:23:51.29\00:23:54.03
I didn't have money,
put cancer in remission,
00:23:54.10\00:23:57.07
spared my life, spared
your life, saved your life,
00:23:57.10\00:24:01.90
extended somebody's
life.  For me, Jesus is real.
00:24:01.94\00:24:09.88
I said for me, Jesus is
real. So many people doubt Him.
00:24:09.91\00:24:16.55
I can't live without Him.
That is why I love Him so,
00:24:16.58\00:24:21.52
because He's so real to
me. It's like the boy who went
00:24:21.56\00:24:29.23
off to college. He studied
all those basic sciences,
00:24:29.26\00:24:32.77
philosophies and world
religions. Came home from school
00:24:32.80\00:24:36.60
the first semester,
and he knew everything.
00:24:36.64\00:24:39.24
Couldn't tell him a
thing. His mother was alike,
00:24:39.27\00:24:42.51
Son, what you
wearing to church tomorrow?
00:24:42.54\00:24:45.31
They were going to
church the next day. Mom,
00:24:45.35\00:24:47.02
I ain't going to
church. What you mean,
00:24:47.05\00:24:49.25
you ain't going to
church? Mom, I ain't
00:24:49.28\00:24:51.35
going to church. This
boy'd better be glad he
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.82
wasn't in my daddy's
house. My daddy said.
00:24:53.86\00:24:55.99
I don't care how old
you get, if you're living
00:24:56.02\00:24:57.49
in my roof, you're
going to church. DO I have
00:24:57.53\00:24:58.66
a witness in this
place?  [Aud. reaction]
00:24:58.69\00:25:00.20
PB:  Young people run
around telling Mom and Daddy,
00:25:00.23\00:25:01.53
they're living here, soaking
up your air conditioning,
00:25:01.56\00:25:04.10
eating your food,
going in your refrigerator,
00:25:04.13\00:25:05.33
and you tell them
they're going to church,
00:25:05.37\00:25:06.50
they say I ain't going
to church. You'd better
00:25:06.53\00:25:08.40
tell them they'd
better get with the program.
00:25:08.44\00:25:10.51
[Aud. reaction]  PB:  May
the doorknob hit you where
00:25:10.54\00:25:12.27
the good Lord split you. Do
I have a witness in this place?
00:25:12.31\00:25:14.54
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
What do you mean, you are not
00:25:14.58\00:25:18.95
going to church? I've
been to school now. I don't
00:25:18.98\00:25:23.59
need to go to church.
All that stuff you've been
00:25:23.62\00:25:26.02
reading in the Bible is
not true. Jesus ain't real.
00:25:26.05\00:25:29.49
He's just another man who
walked the roads of this earth.
00:25:29.52\00:25:33.53
The mother doesn't
argue with her son, but she
00:25:33.56\00:25:36.23
goes back into her
room and she starts singing
00:25:36.26\00:25:38.80
and moaning, amazing
grace, how sweet the sound
00:25:38.83\00:25:42.27
that saved a wretch
like me. I once was lost,
00:25:42.30\00:25:45.71
but now I'm found,
was blind but now I see.
00:25:45.74\00:25:49.28
Later on that night,
that mama heard her son,
00:25:49.31\00:25:51.35
something coming out
of his room. She heard a
00:25:51.38\00:25:53.78
moaning coming from
her son's room. She got up,
00:25:53.82\00:25:56.69
went to her son's room and
said, Son, what's the problem?
00:25:56.72\00:26:00.16
The young man--you
know I told this story-
00:26:00.19\00:26:01.86
-he holds his jaw
and he says, Mama,
00:26:01.89\00:26:03.73
I've got a
toothache. She says, well, Son,
00:26:03.76\00:26:06.83
I'm sorry you have a
toothache, but let me
00:26:06.86\00:26:08.23
ask you something.
All that science you've
00:26:08.26\00:26:10.63
been studying, all that
philosophy you've been studying,
00:26:10.67\00:26:14.67
and you said if God
defiled your five senses,
00:26:14.70\00:26:18.41
you would believe in
Him. But you said you can't
00:26:18.44\00:26:21.48
see Him, you can't smell
Him, you can't touch Him,
00:26:21.51\00:26:26.85
you can't hear Him, you
can't taste Him, but now,
00:26:26.88\00:26:31.49
I want to ask you.
This toothache you've got.
00:26:31.52\00:26:35.66
Can you see it? He
said, no. Can you smell it?
00:26:35.69\00:26:41.20
He said, no. Can you
taste it? He said, no, Mama,
00:26:41.23\00:26:47.67
but I can feel it
all over me. She said,
00:26:47.70\00:26:50.01
that's what I'm trying
to tell you about my Jesus.
00:26:50.04\00:26:52.21
I can't see Him, I can't
touch Him, I can't taste Him,
00:26:52.24\00:26:59.51
I can't smell Him, but
every now and then I can feel
00:26:59.55\00:27:04.89
Him all over me. Jesus is
real! And let me throw this in,
00:27:04.92\00:27:14.20
free of charge. When you make
contact with God for yourself,
00:27:14.23\00:27:17.60
when God does something
for you that He doesn't
00:27:17.63\00:27:20.20
do for anybody else. I'm
not talking about hitchhiking
00:27:20.24\00:27:22.60
off somebody else's
testimony, but I'm talking about
00:27:22.64\00:27:25.14
when you've been through enough
stuff personally for yourself,
00:27:25.17\00:27:28.04
and you come to experience
the realness and authenticity
00:27:28.08\00:27:31.45
of God for yourself, I'm talking
about your own testimony,
00:27:31.48\00:27:34.72
you will know too much
about Him to doubt Him,
00:27:34.75\00:27:37.55
and you will know
He is real, for real!
00:27:37.59\00:27:41.32
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Number two: What keeps us from
00:27:41.36\00:27:46.09
being born again? Arrogance.
It's getting quiet in here now.
00:27:46.13\00:27:52.33
Y'all were shouting on
that other, let me see if you
00:27:52.37\00:27:54.87
shout on this.
Everybody say "arrogance."
00:27:54.90\00:27:58.57
Aud.:  Arrogance.  PB: 
I'm a good person, Pastor Byrd.
00:27:58.61\00:28:01.21
I'm a good church member. I
do more good things than bad
00:28:01.24\00:28:07.28
things. I don't really sin.
I don't really sin? I'm better
00:28:07.32\00:28:17.69
than most. I know
the Bible. I know the --
00:28:17.73\00:28:18.73
>:  Thank you for
joining us for another exciting
00:28:18.76\00:28:19.76
Breath of Life
television broadcast.
00:28:19.79\00:28:21.23
Tune in next week at
the same time, as Dr. Byrd
00:28:21.26\00:28:23.67
will deliver another
dynamic message from the Lord,
00:28:23.70\00:28:30.21
just for you. Until
next time, may God bless you.
00:28:30.24\00:28:45.25