Participants: Carlton P. Byrd
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000564A
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00:02 Breath Of Life Ministries Presents:
00:05 Sermon B564 "You Must Be Born Again" 00:11 [Breath of Life Theme Musicusic] 00:20 PB: Let's take our Bibles and we're going to go to the 00:24 book of John, chapter 3, verse number 1. John chapter 3, 00:31 verse number 1. John 3, verse 1. The Word of God says, 00:43 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, 00:49 a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, 00:57 and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a 01:01 teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles 01:04 that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered 01:13 and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 01:14 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 01:22 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? 01:30 can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 01:35 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a 01:40 man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 01:45 the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 01:50 and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not 01:58 that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." 02:07 Father, speak to us today, in Jesus' name. Amen. 02:17 Today we talk about Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a big man, 02:29 not necessarily in stature, but he was a popular man. 02:35 Nicodemus was an influential man, a powerful man. 02:44 Nicodemus was tough stuff. Nicodemus was a bad boy. 02:52 He was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the highest 02:58 governing body of the entire Jewish nation. The Sanhedrin, 03:04 synonymous with our modern-day United States Senate, 03:08 was composed of 70 priests plus some honored laity with 03:13 members belonging to the two major religious political parties, 03:17 the Pharisees and the Sadducees. But not only was 03:23 Nicodemus a member of the Sanhedrin--and remember, 03:26 he was a bad boy--Nicodemus was also a Pharisee. 03:30 Now remember, most Pharisees were intensely jealous of Jesus, 03:38 because Jesus undermined their authority and He 03:41 challenged their views. But Nicodemus was one who 03:47 continued to search for knowledge, and he believed 03:50 that Jesus had some answers to some questions he didn't know. 03:54 So although he was rich, although he was educated, 04:00 although he was honored, Nicodemus had been attracted 04:06 to the teachings of Jesus and he had a desire to learn more. 04:11 First lesson today. I don't care how intelligent 04:16 you think you are. I don't care how educated you are. 04:21 Everybody can learn something from somebody. 04:27 Nobody knows it all. Do I have a witness in this place? 04:34 [Aud. reaction] PB: And so even though Nicodemus was learned, 04:38 smart, rich, even he could learn something from somebody else. 04:46 Nicodemus is a teacher of both the law and religion, 04:52 but yet the Bible says he comes in the middle of the night- 04:57 -Nick at night, if you will--to seek an interview with Jesus. 05:04 But why does Nick come at night? Why does he have to come 05:11 under the cloak of darkness? Was it because he didn't want 05:16 to follow his--he didn't want his fellow Pharisees to know 05:20 he was coming to see Jesus because, after all, 05:22 he's a prominent man, a teacher of the law, well trained, 05:25 well equipped for teaching, so he probably came at 05:28 night because it wouldn't look good for him to acknowledge 05:31 this untrained teacher. But then maybe he came at night 05:37 because he had some questions that needed answers. 05:40 So, because he needed some quality time with Jesus alone, 05:43 he came at night. He came to be with Jesus personally. 05:45 He wanted to speak and see Jesus one-on-one. Jesus always 05:50 had a crowd around him. Jesus always had people around him, 05:53 so nighttime allowed for a long, private discussion. 05:57 I believe, after reading the chapter on Desire of 06:01 Ages on Nicodemus, he came for both reasons at night: 06:05 his reputation and he wanted Jesus' full attention. 06:09 But look at verse 2. Look at it. The Bible says Nicodemus said, 06:16 "Rabbi"--stop. Rabbi means a teacher from God. So, 06:24 Nicodemus comes as one teacher to another teacher, rabbi, 06:31 and he comes respectively. "Rabbi, we know that thou art 06:36 a teacher come from God," verse 2 says, "for no man can 06:39 do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." 06:45 But look at what Jesus says in verse 3. The Bible says 06:48 "Jesus answered." Jesus what, everybody? 06:51 PB: Come on, Jesus what, everybody? 06:53 PB: "Answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, 06:54 I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, 06:57 he cannot see the kingdom of God." Now quickly, 07:01 look at this text. Notice, notice in this text, 07:05 in Jesus' response to Nicodemus, He never allowed 07:09 Nicodemus to finish his thought or ask the question 07:13 that he was trying to ask. Look at the text, friends. 07:17 Nicodemus only got as far as sating what he thought 07:22 of Jesus and Jesus' ministry. He only got to how Jesus 07:26 was not only a teacher of the law but how God was 07:29 with Him at well. That's it. Jesus stopped Nicodemus. 07:33 Jesus interrupted Nicodemus and answered his question 07:38 before he even asked it. Notice, it says Jesus answered. 07:44 Jesus answered what? Nicodemus never asked anything. 07:51 There's no question. But Jesus interrupts because He's 07:56 teaching Nicodemus and all of us one of the most 07:58 profound truths about how one can enter the kingdom of God. 08:04 And the reason, friends, that Jesus interrupted Nicodemus 08:06 is because Jesus didn't have to hear the question because 08:09 He already knew what was in Nicodemus's heart. 08:12 Lesson number two: Jesus knows what we need before we 08:15 know we even need it. Jesus answered and said, "Verily, 08:19 verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be"--what, everybody? 08:21 Born again. "He cannot see"--notice the Bible does not say 08:26 "he cannot enter." The Bible says "He cannot see the kingdom of God." 08:32 That's his disability, he can't see it. We're going to 08:34 get there in a minute. Now remember, Jesus is speaking 08:37 to a Pharisee. He's not speaking to a publican or a prostitute. 08:42 Jesus is speaking to "a religious person." A religious teacher. 08:48 He's speaking to somebody who knows the law. He's saying, 08:53 I don't care who you are. I don't care who you know. He said, 08:59 nobody can see the kingdom unless they're born again. 09:04 I don't care how religious you think you are, 09:08 I don't care how many years you've been in the church, 09:11 I don't care how many generations you're in the church, 09:14 I don't care how many people you know in the church, 09:17 I don't care how long you've worked for the church. 09:20 I don't care how many degrees you have, 09:21 how many letters you have behind your name, 09:23 how much money you have or if you have the 09:25 biggest house in the church. Except a man be born again, 09:33 he cannot enter and see the kingdom of God. 09:39 Do I have a witness in this place? All right, 09:41 so that's the theology. Let me give you the 09:42 practical application. Everybody talking about heaven 09:46 ain't going. Everybody talking about Jesus ain't serving Jesus. 09:51 Just because folk talk the talk doesn't mean they walk the walk. 09:54 Just because folk can quote Scripture doesn't mean they 09:56 live Scripture. Just because folk talk about Jesus, 09:59 sing about Jesus, study about Jesus, teach about Jesus, 10:02 and preach about Jesus doesn't mean they know Jesus. 10:07 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom 10:17 of heaven. Somebody oughta shout right there. 10:19 But let me go a little further. Let me tell you something. 10:21 One of the worst things that can happen in the Christian life, 10:25 one of the worst things that can happen to a church like this, 10:29 is spiritual stagnation. Everybody say "spiritual stagnation. 10:34 Aud.: Spiritual stagnation. PB: What is that. That's no growth, 10:37 no development, no change, no power, no nothin', 10:44 just going through the motions. Just going through another 10:48 cycle of prayer meetings, Sabbath school lessons, 10:51 missions stories. Going through another cycle of 10:57 church anniversaries, youth days, senior adult days, 10:59 __ days, education days, graduations, revivals, 11:03 Revelation seminars, Communion services. 11:06 Just going through the motions. [Aud. reaction] 11:09 PB: Singing the same songs, praying the same prayers. 11:13 I know you don't like it, I'm gonna preach it anyhow. 11:15 Reciting the same testimonies, just going through 11:20 the motions. Unresponsive to God's call, 11:23 unmoved by God's claim, unchanged by God's Spirit. 11:28 No Holy Ghost fire, no Pentecostal zeal, no energy, 11:34 no enthusiasm, no excitement. Just going through 11:39 the motions. But Jesus says, Brother Nicodemus, 11:43 unless you see, unless you're born again, 11:48 you will not see the kingdom of God. 11:51 Are we so close to Jesus that we can't see Jesus? 11:56 Can't see what He's doing in our lives. 11:59 Can't see what He's doing in other people's lives. 12:02 Can't see what He's doing in the life of the church. 12:06 Do we talk about Jesus so much that we don't even 12:09 realize who Jesus is? Do we talk about His miracles 12:13 so much that we don't realize when a real-life miracle 12:16 is happening right now in our lives? So what happens to us- 12:21 -miracles become coincidences. Coincidences become luck, 12:26 and we're just going through the motions. 12:28 Nicodemus's weakness was failing to realize that we 12:31 are nothing without God. Oh, let me say that again. 12:36 Pastor Goodrich heard me, but somebody else needs 12:38 to hear me. We are nothing without God. [Aud. reaction] 12:43 PB: I've got two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, 12:47 a doctoral degree-all of them earned. Nobody gave me anything. 12:50 Do I have a witness in this place? I have a beautiful wife, 12:52 three beautiful children, a wonderful church and a 12:55 wonderful television ministry, but guess what? 12:57 I am nothing without God. [Aud. reaction] 13:02 PB: 'Cause you do know, if I drop dead tomorrow 13:04 they will get somebody else up in here. 13:06 [Aud. reaction] PB: We do know that. 13:10 Now, if they put me in the casket, 13:12 y'all better cry for me. When I get to heaven, 13:14 my wife's gonna tell me y'all cried for me. 13:17 [Aud. reaction] PB: But you do understand, 13:18 they will get somebody up in here. I am nothing 13:23 without God. You all are nothing without God. 13:29 There are people who have more degrees than me, 13:32 but they have no Holy Ghost fire because they 13:35 are nothing without God. Without God, 13:40 we're like macaroni without cheese. 13:42 Collard greens without corn bread. 13:44 Steak without potatoes. All y'all ain't vegetarian. 13:48 Come on, say amen. [Aud. reaction] 13:51 PB: Fish without chips, ackee without saltfish, 13:56 rice without peas, peas without rice. 13:59 We are nothing without God! Nicodemus was 14:03 strong in religion but weak in faith. 14:07 'Cause it's one thing to be in church, 14:09 it's another thing to be in Christ. 14:11 It's one thing to be in the building, 14:13 it's another thing to be in the body. 14:14 It's one thing to be in the sanctuary, 14:15 it's another thing to be in the Spirit. 14:17 Everybody that's in church is not in God. 14:19 Everybody that knows the Bible does not know God. 14:22 Everybody that has religion does not have faith. 14:25 Can I be real? 'Cause you know we've got graduates 14:28 and camp meetings, I've got to get it all in today. 14:30 Come on, say amen. Jesus had more trouble getting 14:34 church folk to see the kingdom of God than in 14:38 getting non-church folk into following Him. 14:41 Which means, it's not always the demons on the 14:44 outside that are the problem, but the pretentious, 14:47 fake, phony angels on the inside who are always 14:50 getting in God's way. Preach, Pastor Byrd. 14:52 I'm doing the best I can! More concerned about 14:55 tradition than truth, more caught up in formality 14:58 than spirituality, more concerned about custom 15:00 that creativity, more concerned about policy 15:03 than people, more concerned about dos and don'ts 15:06 than deliverance. More concerned about the way 15:10 it used to be than the way it ought to be. 15:13 We can be strongly and staunchly religious 15:17 to the detriment of our spiritual sensitivity. 15:20 When was the last time you were moved by a sermon? 15:23 When was the last time--somebody say it's right now. Amen. 15:28 [Aud. reaction] PB: When was the last time you were 15:32 really touched by a song? Inspired by a testimony? 15:37 If we're not careful, the strength of our religion 15:40 can be the weakness of our faith. Nicodemus was so 15:45 close to God that he couldn't appreciate God. 15:49 Some of us are so close to God, we can't appreciate God, 15:54 what God has done, what God is doing, what God will do. 15:58 Every time I come through that gate and I see that 16:02 family life center going up, I say to God be the glory! 16:06 Great things He hath done. Nicodemus was so close 16:10 to the kingdom of God that he couldn't see the kingdom of God. 16:14 He was too familiar with the things of God to 16:17 feel the Spirit of God. Are we like Nicodemus? 16:22 Am I like Nicodemus? Are so close to God that we 16:27 can't see what God is doing? Do we know so much of 16:30 the Bible that we really don't know Jesus? 16:33 Do we know the hymns so well that we don't know 16:35 the God about whom we're singing? You see, 16:38 Nicodemus flunked the test because he was 16:41 too familiar with the material. He was too 16:45 smart for his own good. So Jesus says to him, 16:48 Nicodemus! Nicodemus! You must be born again. 16:57 You've been in the Word, but you don't know the Word. 17:01 You know the 23rd Psalm, but you don't know the Shepherd. 17:04 You know the Lord's Prayer, but you don't know the Lord. 17:07 You know the Ten Commandments, you know the 17:09 fourth commandment, but you don't know the Commander. 17:12 You must be born again! [Aud. reaction] 17:15 PB: Now, the phrase "born again"--everybody say "born again." 17:18 Aud.: Born again. PB: Can be translated several ways. 17:21 Some theologians say it means to be born from above. 17:24 Everybody say "born from above." Aud.: [indiscernible] 17:26 PB: Others say it means born anew. Everybody say "born anew." 17:29 PB: Now, both are correct when you apply the 17:34 Greek in the text. But, if Jesus spoke this text, 17:37 this verse, in Aramaic--which is probably the case 17:40 because Aramaic was the language spoken at this time- 17:43 -it would have been interpreted as this: Except a man 17:45 has another birth, he will never see the kingdom of God. 17:50 But either the Greek or the Aramaic is acceptable 17:52 because the bottom line is, friends of mine, 17:55 we can't see the kingdom of God in our present 17:58 condition. A new birth is required. And Jesus 18:03 makes it clear, He's not talking about a physical birth, 18:08 but He's talking about a spiritual birth. Verily, verily, 18:13 I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and 18:18 of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 18:21 He must be born again. Born from above, and born anew. 18:28 What do we need, church? What do we need, 18:31 old good Christians? We need a brand-new start. 18:36 The old you must be done away with before a new you 18:40 can be built. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 18:45 Old things are passed away, all things become new. 18:50 But Nicodemus, with all his degrees, 18:52 with all his intellectual brilliance, 18:55 with all his philosophical depth, 18:57 didn't understand how one could be born again. 19:01 He didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. 19:04 He didn't understand how a man could be born 19:06 when he was old? How could a man, the Bible says, 19:08 go back to his mother's womb again? How could a 19:12 man go back to his embryonic developmental stage? 19:15 Nicodemus said, Jesus, that's why I came to you. 19:18 I came to you because I do want to be new. 19:21 I want to be born again, but how can I be born again? 19:26 How can I go back? Jesus said, Nicodemus, 19:30 you don't know what I'm talking about. 19:32 I'm not talking about going backward, 19:33 I'm talking about going forward. 19:34 I'm not trying to reduce you, 19:36 I'm trying to increase you. 19:37 I'm not trying to subtract you, 19:39 I'm trying to add to you. You must be born again. 19:42 But this time, you must be born of water and of the Spirit, 19:46 because that which is born of the flesh is flesh. 19:51 That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 19:54 Flesh gives birth to flesh. Spirit gives 20:00 birth to spirit. Oh y'all don't hear what I'm saying. 20:04 Flesh gives birth to flesh. Spirit gives birth to spirit. 20:13 Physical birth had limitations. It only gives 20:17 rise to that which is earthy, but Jesus, in this text, 20:20 is talking about a spiritual kingdom. The kingdom of God. 20:25 And spiritual birth is required for entrance in that kingdom. 20:30 There needs to be, yes, a natural birth before there 20:33 can be a spiritual birth, but friends, you've got 20:35 to be born again. You've got to be born from above, 20:38 and you've got to be born anew before you 20:41 can get in God's kingdom. You see, the first time 20:43 you were born, you were born into the family 20:45 of your surname. But the second time you were born, 20:47 you were born into the family of God. The first 20:50 time you were born, you became a citizen of the U.S. 20:52 But the second time you were born, you became a 20:54 citizen of God's kingdom. The first time you were born, 20:56 you were eligible to Social Security. The second 20:58 time you were born, you became a recipient of 21:01 eternal security. The first time you were born, 21:03 they wrote your name in the United States Census. 21:05 The second time you were born, you were written 21:07 in the Book of Life. The first time you were born, 21:09 you became a living being. The second time you were born, 21:13 you became a living soul. The first time you were born, 21:15 you became an heir of your family's inheritance, 21:17 but the second time you were born, you became an 21:22 heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of the Spirit, 21:27 washed in His blood. You must be born again! 21:33 [Aud. reaction] PB: Now, I'm about to take my seat; 21:38 I'm done. But there are three things that keep us from 21:42 being born again. Three things. How many things, everybody? 21:47 Aud.: Three. PB: Three. Number one, doubt. 21:49 Everybody say "doubt." Aud.: Doubt 21:51 PB: We doubt the power of God. We come down here 21:57 for prayer every Sabbath--going through the motions. 21:59 We need prayer, I need healing. But do we really 22:03 believe in the power of God? Do we believe that 22:07 we've got power to tread on serpents, that we've 22:09 got power to step on demons. Do we believe that 22:14 we have power today. We doubt the power of God. 22:18 We doubt the credibility of God. We doubt the move 22:23 of God. We have become desensitized to God's power, 22:28 and we think miracles were only for the New Testament. 22:31 But that's when our faith must kick in. 22:34 We must believe in a God who can do things we 22:37 can't do, who can hear things we can't hear, 22:40 who can see things we can't see. Faith is the 22:43 substance of things hoped for, the evidence of 22:46 things not seen. It is impossible to please God 22:50 without faith, because God is a rewarder of 22:52 those that diligently seek Him. 22:54 Can I confess? I'm not up here just for a check. 22:58 'Cause they don't pay me enough. Come on, say amen. 23:01 Aud.: Amen. PB: But I come up in here every Sabbath. 23:04 I come up here every Wednesday. I come up here every 23:08 day during the week. Some of y'all know what 23:10 I'm talking about. I fly in and I come in just 23:12 to get church. Why? Because I believe in a God 23:16 who can heal the sick. I believe what I preach. 23:21 I believe in a God who can raise the dead. 23:25 I believe in a God who can cast out demons. 23:30 I believe in a God who can meet my needs. 23:35 He woke me up this morning, He started me on my way. 23:40 He put food on my table, He put clothing on my back. 23:43 He allows me weekly to get from point A to point B. 23:47 I believe in God. Kept my lights on, kept my 23:51 children in church school, paid the tuition when 23:54 I didn't have money, put cancer in remission, 23:57 spared my life, spared your life, saved your life, 24:01 extended somebody's life. For me, Jesus is real. 24:09 I said for me, Jesus is real. So many people doubt Him. 24:16 I can't live without Him. That is why I love Him so, 24:21 because He's so real to me. It's like the boy who went 24:29 off to college. He studied all those basic sciences, 24:32 philosophies and world religions. Came home from school 24:36 the first semester, and he knew everything. 24:39 Couldn't tell him a thing. His mother was alike, 24:42 Son, what you wearing to church tomorrow? 24:45 They were going to church the next day. Mom, 24:47 I ain't going to church. What you mean, 24:49 you ain't going to church? Mom, I ain't 24:51 going to church. This boy'd better be glad he 24:53 wasn't in my daddy's house. My daddy said. 24:56 I don't care how old you get, if you're living 24:57 in my roof, you're going to church. DO I have 24:58 a witness in this place? [Aud. reaction] 25:00 PB: Young people run around telling Mom and Daddy, 25:01 they're living here, soaking up your air conditioning, 25:04 eating your food, going in your refrigerator, 25:05 and you tell them they're going to church, 25:06 they say I ain't going to church. You'd better 25:08 tell them they'd better get with the program. 25:10 [Aud. reaction] PB: May the doorknob hit you where 25:12 the good Lord split you. Do I have a witness in this place? 25:14 [Aud. reaction] PB: What do you mean, you are not 25:18 going to church? I've been to school now. I don't 25:23 need to go to church. All that stuff you've been 25:26 reading in the Bible is not true. Jesus ain't real. 25:29 He's just another man who walked the roads of this earth. 25:33 The mother doesn't argue with her son, but she 25:36 goes back into her room and she starts singing 25:38 and moaning, amazing grace, how sweet the sound 25:42 that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, 25:45 but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. 25:49 Later on that night, that mama heard her son, 25:51 something coming out of his room. She heard a 25:53 moaning coming from her son's room. She got up, 25:56 went to her son's room and said, Son, what's the problem? 26:00 The young man--you know I told this story- 26:01 -he holds his jaw and he says, Mama, 26:03 I've got a toothache. She says, well, Son, 26:06 I'm sorry you have a toothache, but let me 26:08 ask you something. All that science you've 26:10 been studying, all that philosophy you've been studying, 26:14 and you said if God defiled your five senses, 26:18 you would believe in Him. But you said you can't 26:21 see Him, you can't smell Him, you can't touch Him, 26:26 you can't hear Him, you can't taste Him, but now, 26:31 I want to ask you. This toothache you've got. 26:35 Can you see it? He said, no. Can you smell it? 26:41 He said, no. Can you taste it? He said, no, Mama, 26:47 but I can feel it all over me. She said, 26:50 that's what I'm trying to tell you about my Jesus. 26:52 I can't see Him, I can't touch Him, I can't taste Him, 26:59 I can't smell Him, but every now and then I can feel 27:04 Him all over me. Jesus is real! And let me throw this in, 27:14 free of charge. When you make contact with God for yourself, 27:17 when God does something for you that He doesn't 27:20 do for anybody else. I'm not talking about hitchhiking 27:22 off somebody else's testimony, but I'm talking about 27:25 when you've been through enough stuff personally for yourself, 27:28 and you come to experience the realness and authenticity 27:31 of God for yourself, I'm talking about your own testimony, 27:34 you will know too much about Him to doubt Him, 27:37 and you will know He is real, for real! 27:41 [Aud. reaction] PB: Number two: What keeps us from 27:46 being born again? Arrogance. It's getting quiet in here now. 27:52 Y'all were shouting on that other, let me see if you 27:54 shout on this. Everybody say "arrogance." 27:58 Aud.: Arrogance. PB: I'm a good person, Pastor Byrd. 28:01 I'm a good church member. I do more good things than bad things. 28:07 I don't really sin. I don't really sin? I'm better than most. 28:17 I know the Bible. I know the -- 28:18 >: Thank you for joining us for another exciting 28:19 Breath of Life television broadcast. 28:21 Tune in next week at the same time, as Dr. Byrd 28:23 will deliver another dynamic message from the Lord, 28:30 just for you. Until next time, may God bless you. |
Revised 2017-06-20