Study

He Will Meet You

August 4, 2018 by in Study

Text:

John 3:1-3:

1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 

Theme:

He Will Meet You

 

Introduction:

  • The Gospel According to St. John is the fourth gospel written by the Apostle John. Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true.  However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son AND the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
  • The Gospel of John, which houses our text, serves as a special closing to the set of Gospels that tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
    • Matthew gives a detailed depiction of the history of Jesus’ life
    • Mark gives Jesus’ life as depicted by Peter’s accounts
    • Luke gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as God’s Son who was a man – the humanity of Jesus
    • However, John gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as the man who was God’s Son – the Divinity of Jesus
      • John sums up his intent in writing the Gospel in John 20:31 when he says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
  • Our text is a very familiar story that is preached and taught endlessly à the story of Nicodemus
    • Nicodemus was one of the rulers of the Jews…a member of the Sanhedrin
    • Nicodemus was curious to understand more about salvation and Jesus
      • He had heard Jesus’ message and wanted to learn more
        • Just like us
      • He did not want the other Jewish to leaders to know that he was seeking out Jesus
        • Just like us
      • Jesus gave him the key to salvation à being born again
        • “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
        • What does it mean to be born again??
          • Being “born again” also is known to be “regeneration”
          • Being born again is the core of God’s Plan of Salvation
            • 2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
            • Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
  • This study is, however, going to focus on one detail of this story that is often overlooked. à Jesus’s Availability
    • Jesus was AVAILABLE to meet Nicodemus!
      • I am glad to say that HE WILL MEET YOU!

Body:

  • He will meet WHOEVER! è Nicodemus was one of the Jewish Rulers
    • The Right One à Proverbs 28:18, “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.”
    • The Wrong One à Romans 10:12, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
    • The Persevering One à Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
    • The Available One à Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
    • The Toiling One à Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
  • He will meet WHENEVER! è Jesus met Nicodemus at night
    • When I CAN à As the poem from Rev. Calvin G. Sampson says, “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something.  That that I can do I should do, and by the grace of God I will do.”
    • When I CAN’T à John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
    • When I WILL à Joshua 24:15, “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
    • When I WON’T à As the hymn “Love Lifted Me” says,

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;

But the master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,Fro the waters lifted me now safe am I.

  • He will meet WHEREVER! è Jesus met Nicodemus where neither the disciples or other rulers were
    • The Right Place à Psalms 139:8a, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there….”
    • The Wrong Place à Psalms 139:8b, “…if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”
    • Any Place à Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
  • He will meet WHATEVER! è Nicodemus was a “WHOSOEVER”
    • John 3:16, “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.”
    • God will can handle WHATEVER you can bring to Him!
      • Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”
      • Matthew 19:26 & Mark 10:27, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
    • This got me saved, but then the “stuff” kept coming…and God kept meeting “whatever”!
      • I still had ENEMIES
        • Psalms 27:3, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”
      • I still had TEMPTATION
        • Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”
      • I still had my FLESH
        • Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
      • I still had my FEARS
        • 1John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
      • God is STILL GOOD!!
        • It’s a battle, but 2Chronicles 20:15 says, “…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
  • Yes, HE WILL MEET YOU!!

Conclusion:

  • What does it mean for God to MEET you?
    • He will TOUCH you
      • An encounter with God will get your undivided attention! à It must be God
        • HEALING Touch
        • LOVING Touch
        • STIMULATING Touch
    • He will CHANGE you
      • An encounter with God will make a difference in your…
        • Attitude, perspective, ability, walk, talk, etc……
        • LIFE
    • He will SUSTAIN you
      • An encounter with God will take care of you…
        • SUPPLY à Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
        • UPHOLD à As the Winans song says, “Uphold me with Thy free spirit. Whatever You do, Lord, don’t take Your Love from me.”
    • He will SAVE you
      • An encounter with God will, with your choice, SAVE YOUR SOUL!
        • Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
  • He met me one day!!
  • HE WILL MEET YOU, TOO!

 

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