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ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 John 2:24-25

John 2:24-25 NASB

24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,

25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

COMMENTS:

This is an observation by John of Jesus' attitude toward the public and public opinion.

I was struck by it - never noticed it as starkly as now.

Jesus did not rely on the approval of others. He knew their approval of him was fickle, temporal. To rely on their approval would mean he would be subject to their whims. It would not be stable, but wishy-washy. Nothing absolute about public opinion - changes as often as the weather - sometimes pleasant and sometimes stormy and sometimes leaves you high and dry.

Jesus was focused. How could he do that? The answer is found in John 12:49,50:

“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

50“I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

Can we be that focused? To do only the will of the Jesus, to speak only those things He would have you say? and do?


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/23 10:46Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 John 3:3-8

John 3:3-8 NASB

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

COMMENT:

Eternal principle: "unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." So spoken by Jesus.

How can one enter the kingdom of God? This was Nicodemus' question and it was not the last time it was asked - it continues to this day. And the answer remains the same: of water and the spirit.

Assuming Jesus means the WORD when he used the term water one knows from experience and the Scripture that it is impossible to be holy otherwise. It takes the WORD of God and the indwelling of the Spirit to make one fit for the kingdom of God.

To effect this requires a complete change in heart and spirit. Impossible to do it on your own - it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is also an ongoing one and will be until you die. Simple. One does not have to have a degree in some theology to experience this. You cannot go to school to get it, nor can you buy it. No one can give it to you, either; nor can you inherit it because your mammy or pappy has it. It all rests with you, the individual. Me. The Holy Spirit beckons; am I listening?

The Holy Spirit cannot be seen. It is like wind - you see its effects because of what it does to the environment. So, the Holy Spirit - it will leave its effect on you. It can whip you, shake you, it can destroy or make you fly like a kite. Am I allowing Him to shape me up to fit me for the kingdom of God?


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/24 10:28Profile
MaryJane
Member



Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057


 Re: John 3:3-8

ginnyrose wrote:To effect this requires a complete change in heart and spirit. Impossible to do it on your own - it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is also an ongoing one and will be until you die.
___________________________

I am learning just how impossible it is. I know in my heart that daily I must trust in the LORD, if I walk in self and strive to overcome I will fail. The only way is to submit and listen for HIS leading.

Thank you for sharing this has been very beneficial for me.

God Bless
mj

 2012/7/24 11:06Profile
TMK
Member



Joined: 2012/2/8
Posts: 6650
NC, USA

 Re: John 2:13-22

"ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

When jesus cleansed the temple the disciples remembered this passage.

We Christians today obviously are not to have zeal for a building (God's "house" in scripture always refers to the temple).

So how should we complete the statement, if we are allowed to choose only one word or phrase?

"Zeal for __________ will consume me."


_________________
Todd

 2012/7/24 12:50Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 John 3:9-21

John 3:9-21 NASB

9Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

11“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.

12“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

COMMENTS:

The tension between Jesus' words and man is brought into sharp focus here.

Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can these things be?" He chides him with, "you a teacher in Israel and you do not know?"

Let us today consider the barriers to receiving TRUTH.

1. Have a mindset that resists truth, even in the everyday things of life. v12 I have noticed this, have you not? This is red flag #1 when one works to share with another, especially one who is persistent in sinning. It is as though they are working hard to contradict you at every turn. Interesting how this trait has spiritual implications.

2. Men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil. v19 Ever notice how Hollywood uses dark images in promoting their movies? Someone has said that when you see videos or DVDs whose primary colors on the case insert are dark you can know it is a movie that promotes evil. Is it not true also that some serious cimes occur under cover of darkness? Why? is it not so thee is less chance of being seen and exposed?

3. Everyone that does evil hates light and does not come to it, lest their deeds should be exposed. v20. If anyone sees through their deeds they will hate you; they hate it when people expose the under lying force that drives them.

When we resist TRUTH is there any hidden sin that prevents us from receiving it?

If only people would realize how liberating TRUTH is! It literally frees a person from bondage of all kinds. This is why some have the strength to suffer for Jesus' sake because they are liberated from lies and know the truth. Oh...oh..

Where am I?


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/25 10:03Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re:

QUOTE:
______________________________________________________________

"Zeal for __________ will consume me."
______________________________________________________________

Good question.

What consumes me? We see people all around us consumed with passion for_______________. Am I just as consumed for Jesus?

Good question, TMK.


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/25 10:07Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re: John 3:3-8

As I was meditating on these verses and wondering what the LORD would have me share my attention was drawn to the phrase "the kingdom of God". It appears in verses 3 and 5.

In verse three it says:
"unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In verse 5:
"unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Notice the words "see" in verse 3 and the word "enter" in verse 5 in connection to the kingdom of God.

Then I got to wondering exactly what is the kingdom of God? Is it not a kingdom that is ruled by God, where God is the ruling monarch, the king? where all his subjects do his biding? where all the inhabitants are subject to his decrees and will?

Ok...so how does one become a citizen of this kingdom? Apparently one has to recognize its existence(v.3), and then you can be born into it. Unlike your first birth, you do have the choice on whether you will enter it. (V.7: ye must be born again.)

So, now that I am born into this kingdom of God, my life, my will, my work, everything in my life is subject to the will of this King. Is this the case? Do I find it a pleasure, a joy to be a part of this kingdom?

If you were brought before a court of law and are accused of being a citizen of the kingdom of God, would there be enough evidence to convict you?


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/26 12:03Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re: John 3:9-21

As I look at this scripture I sense in Jesus a frustration at people who disbelieved him.

Apparently, he had been doing a lot of teaching because of Nicodemus witness when he said "that we know thou art a teacher come from God." John 3:2. He also performed miracles and now this teacher was still unsure. What does it take to make people believe the obvious? There was powerful teaching plus miracles and still doubtful questions remained.

If this was the case back then, it surely is no better today, is it?

In Revelation John is shown how God will use severe calamities in an effort to bring about repentance. But will it work?

You have powerful teachings, miracles, calamities and they fail to convince the majority of the people. This alone should tell us something...

What will it take to force us to repentance? to stay close to the Master's side?


_________________
Sandra Miller

 2012/7/28 14:48Profile
MaryJane
Member



Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057


 Re:

ginnyrose wrote:You have powerful teachings, miracles, calamities and they fail to convince the majority of the people. This alone should tell us something...

What will it take to force us to repentance? to stay close to the Master's side?

__________________

I think for some there is such a desire to live their life for self that no matter what happens or comes their way they will not repent and seek GOD because it would mean having to give up control of their own life. The idea of dying to self and relinquishing control is beyond what they can come to terms with...I have had some say to me the price for following Jesus is just to high if it means I have to give up ____________________(fill in the blank). Its so sad but I believe this is one reason that the path is narrow.

Enjoy reading your insights thank you for sharing.

God Bless
maryjane

 2012/7/28 15:05Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re: John 3:9-21

There is one question that dogs most folks when they are presented with the teachings, claims of Jesus. Just exactly why should they concern me? Why should I listen? By what authority does He speak? Or, is he legitimate?

Many false messiahs had come into the world and continue to come - Jesus promised this. But what distinguishes them from the true Messiah? And would you believe, the devil still whispers these questions to my heart! Well, he does and I am a grandmother. SIGH. Never mind the wonderful supernatural experiences that I have been exposed to, he will still work to get me to doubt Him.

As I ponder this and the dilemma Nicodemus presented to Jesus. He gave him some interesting answers.

1. Nicodemus offered one: No one can do these signs unless God is with him. Signs and miracles.

2. We speak that which we know and bear witness. This is powerful: a personal witness: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. This is what I have seen and heard. This lends authority to any witness.

3. He descended from heaven! (v13) Whoa! how many prophets or Messiahs will say that?! He is saying I got it from God himself! I was there, that is where I come from. Oh...oh.

Here you have three proofs of his legitimacy:
1. Miracles.
2. Witness
3. He came from God.

Jesus' life proved his origins. He was kind, he helped people, he preached holiness - working to draw men and women to God, reproved sin, preached repentance. He lived a consistent life.

Does my life demonstrate my new birth in Christ Jesus?


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Sandra Miller

 2012/7/31 12:25Profile





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