Sermon
A Serpent, A Pole - A Savior, A Cross
August 5-6, 2000
Pastor Donald Sheley

You can take your Bible. We're in John chapter 3. You might want to use the pew Bible, and it's page 715 in the red pew Bible, if you'd like to turn there. We have talked about this conversation between Nicodemus and Christ for some weeks now because we concluded that it's probably the most important conversation ever recorded in human history. It's been a fantastic time of research as I've joined with you, and we've almost taken it word for word and tried to really grasp the truths that Jesus was trying to give to Nicodemus. Let's read the story one more time, shall we?

"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher from God; for no one can do these signs that You do you unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to Him, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to Him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? "Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but He who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Some commentators suggest that Nicodemus was not sincere in this conversation that he had with Christ, but I believe that he was. I believe that he was a very sincere man. What Jesus had to say to him he could not grasp. He had a difficult time understanding what Jesus was trying to say, but he was exceedingly sincere and I think, desperately hungry for God.

In the opening notes, and I'll not read them, but I make comment concerning the sacred duty that's ours as your pastor and your Bible teacher, to make sure that what we say is not our words, but the words of God. Because we're dealing with eternity here. For the next 20 minutes these are exceedingly sacred moments because there'll be decisions that we'll make that will determine if people go to heaven or hell. Now that's a serious thought, and thus, a service of which we are all sharing today has an eternal dimension. I told you some weeks ago of an incident where I sensed the awesome responsibility of preaching and realized that I don't touch everyone I talk to. That hurts me deeply. I shared about the lady who sat in the middle over here, week after week, desperate, frustrated. I prayed with her, somehow didn't get through, and she jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. I talked about a man who sat here for five years, hugged me every time we had get acquainted time, somehow I didn't get through and a few months ago he took his life. So what I'm saying is when I stand here and talk to you there's this awesome sense of sacred responsibility. I'm dealing with a very precious commodity, your soul. And I believe that Jesus had the same sense of awesome responsibility when He talked to Nicodemus.

I had an interesting experience last night. At our gospel service a lovely couple sat right here in the middle and I watched them and at the end of the service he raised his hand to receive Christ as his savior, and then after the service he came to me and said, you know Pastor, I was in your church service four or five weeks ago when you talked about these people who you didn't reach. And he said I could have been one of those statistics. I want to tell you about it. He said sometime ago I was at a desperate point in my life. I wasn't in any way religious. My home was falling apart. My life was falling apart, and I was ready to take my life. He said it was late at night and he said I never expected anybody to answer any phones, but somehow I found the number of church of the highlands. He said, you answered the phone. And he said you talked with me, we had prayer. My problem didn't end. He said I lost my family, but at least you saved my life because here I am tonight and I want to start serving Christ.

Now in the context of the sacredness of this moment let me just quickly go back over this conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a ruler. He's the leader amongst his people. He's a religious man to the nth degree, but he's empty spiritually. So he comes to Jesus by night, addresses Him very graciously, Rabbi, we know that You are a man come from God because nobody can do these things if God wasn't with him. Jesus doesn't seem to react to those words. Jesus said a man must be born again. Well Nicodemus said, now just a minute. How can a man be born again? Can he go back into his mother's womb and go through the process of being born all over again? And Jesus said, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Verse 8, the wind blows where it wills, and you cannot tell where it comes from and where it's going. And so is everyone who is born of the Spirit of God. Now Nicodemus is really confused. He came and just started the conversation. Now Jesus has moved him so deep into spiritual reality, his head is swimming.

Verse 9, it says, Jesus, you lost me. I don't even know what You're talking about. How can these things be? I don't know what you're talking about Jesus. You talked about being born of water. You talked about being born of the Spirit. You talked about being born from above. I tell You the only way I understand birth is in the natural sense, and You say no. You're talking about a birth that originates in the heart of God from above, because the word being born again is being born from above. Jesus, I don't know what You're trying to say.

Verse 10, Jesus said, Nicodemus, do you mean to tell Me that you are 'the' teacher? In other words, he most likely was the most prominent religious leader in his city. And you tell Me that you're a religious leader and you don't understand spiritual things?

Verse 11. That's where we are in our study. We've covered those other verses. Jesus said, We testify what We know. Now all of a sudden He's changed the conversation. It's Me and you Nicodemus. Now it's we. Why did Jesus change it to the pleural? Because what He is saying is this, Nicodemus, let's get down to brass tax. You came here and you said we want to know what You're all about. You came as a representative of the Sanhedrin. Now I'm going to change that and tell you that we, including Me and John the Baptist and others who were preaching this gospel of the kingdom, we know what we're talking about because we've got evidence that it's changing lives. Nicodemus, it's time you opened your eyes and see what happens when a person's life is changed. Well you say, what was changing?

Well back in Luke 3:10 John the Baptist is preaching and when John finishes preaching you have the people come to John and say, John, what do we have to do to live out this conversion, this kingdom life, that you're talking about? John what is it we've got to do? John says, if you've got two sets of clothes you go out and give one away. In other words, end your selfishness and start thinking of other people. And the tax collector walks up to John and says, John, how do we act out this life of living in the kingdom? And John says to the old tax collector, it's time you got honest with your people and stop collecting more than you deserve. Get honest. And I'm at about verse 13 now in Luke chapter 3. The soldier comes in and says, how do we live out this kingdom living? How do we act like Christians? And John says, what you start doing is stop intimidating people and treat them with kindness, and be content with your wages. Well now that's interesting. For what you've got now is a society, you've got a community of people within the realm of those that are preaching John the Baptist and their lives are changing. The selfish people are becoming generous, and the tax collector is getting honest, and the soldiers are being loving. And what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, Nicodemus, just look and see how the gospel of the kingdom is changing lives. We know what we talk about because we've got evidence for it.

Old Dr. Spurgeon years ago preached in his great metropolitan tabernacle in London and he gave this illustration, he said, we used to have a man who was a drunkard in our congregation. Everything he got he drank it, and his children and his wife went desolate. And then he became a Christian, and his life was changed. And he then went off to work the next day and his workers said, ah, you've become a Christian. Yes I have. Do you mean you believe that Bible? Yes I do. Do you really believe that Jesus changed water into wine? And the old drunkard who is now a Christian said, I don't know about that miracle, but I know this, He's changing beer into furniture at my house. (Congregation laughs) Just the evidence, it's the most marvelous proof of a life that's been changed by the power of God.

Jesus is just simply saying, Nicodemus, look at the evidence. We know what we're talking about, but you won't even believe the witness. Now that's interesting because it brings up the whole subject of unbelief. It's a great sin. And I have learned this, that unbelief is not a problem of the intellect it's a problem of the will. We choose what we want to believe, and we choose what we want to reject. We've studied of recent months this whole issue of creationism vs. evolution and we came to one conclusion, to be an evolutionist you've got to be dishonest with your intellect. You have to choose to believe a lie to be an evolutionist, and that's the whole foundation of our educational system today. They choose to believe a lie. Unbelief is a problem of the will not the intellect. So what's He saying to him? Nicodemus, you just choose not to believe. I mean, here's all the evidence and you just choose to reject it. Isn't that true in a lot of people? Some of them have watched your life change dramatically by the power of God. They look on and say, well, religion again, one of those Jesus people. Say yes. They choose to reject the evidence. Nicodemus, you've got all the evidence you need. Why don't you believe? You reject our witness.

Now verse 12, Jesus is getting this conversation right down to the nubbins now. He says look at Nicodemus, if you don't believe the things about earthly things why should we get involved in talking about heavenly things? In other words, Nicodemus, if what you observe and what you know to be truth doesn't change the way you live here on earth, why are we talking about going to heaven? or things heavenly? We're just wasting our time. Now think that one through, because herein lies a deep spiritual truth. What Jesus was simply saying to Nicodemus, if you're not willing to act upon what you see and allow it to affect what you do here on earth, why talk about going to heaven? You say now how does that work out impractical Christianity? I'll tell you how it works out for us. There is a spiritual law where God, in our relationship with Him in our faith, takes us to a point in spiritual growth where God requests of us to do something about the way we live, and if we don't, it will affect our spiritual growth. What He's simply saying is, if you won't take care of things that effect the way you live here, why are you worrying about going to heaven? or talking about spiritual things?

You say, can you give us an illustration for that Pastor? Yes I can. Say somebody comes into our congregation, and this happens very frequently, and that is they come from a society that has so degraded marriage people live together without even being married. That's fornication. That is a sin that will send you to hell. Now that's what we believe, the Bible, and that's what the Bible teaches. But we live in a society who doesn't make that distinction. It just absolutely is gone. So they'll come to our church and they listen to the gospel and God changes their heart, and the first thing they've got to deal with is their lifestyle. And usually the first thing that becomes the conversation when they leave and they've given their lives to Christ is, hey guy, we've got to change this. This is wrong. Change what? Change living together without marriage. Now the beautiful thing is that time, and time, and time again those people who come to the knowledge as it deals with their life here on earth, they make the corrections - married, get God's blessing and the church's blessing on their marriage - and their spiritual life continues to grow on. I watch it. We have a number of marriages right in our office. We just say go down get your license, come back, and we'll marry you. Now? Today, yes today. We'll solve this problem just today. (Congregation laughs) And you know, it's a beautiful thing to see people catch spiritual truth, act upon it, ask God to help them, take care of something that matters with their living here, and what happens is all heaven breaks loose and blessing upon their lives. It's an amazing thing. But I've had other couples say, look at boy, if that's what's required to be a Christian 'go hang it', and they go back in sin and ultimately to hell.

Nicodemus, why should we talk about things, truths that you haven't even allowed to change you the way you live here on earth, why do you want to talk about spiritual things? Boy that gets real close, doesn't it? You say is there another illustration? Yeah I'm going to give it to you and you may not like it. I'm going to talk about something I very seldom talk about. Go with me in your Bible to that page just before the book of Matthew. It's the old book of Malachi. Here's a spiritual lesson. If you'll learn it it's an amazing thing about spiritual truth. If you live out what you learn, it'll open up heaven for you in measures you never dreamed of. Malachi is that book just before Matthew. Okay? It's the last book in the Old Testament. Got it? Now I'm going to show you how what we do here on earth with truth effects how heaven response to us. That's what He's saying, Nicodemus, if you don't live out truth here on earth, why do you want to worry about going to heaven? Look at what it says in Malachi and I'll start in chapter 3 verse 6. Now this is fascinating. It says, "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. If you'll return to Me, I will return to you." What's the issue? Disobedience, isn't it? They know what to do but they're not doing it. They've departed. God says if you'll come back we'll start all over again.

Well they say, "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You see one of the first things we learn in our Christian journey that God not only is the God of our soul, but he's the God of our pocketbook. Now most of us will turn our soul over to Him, but we won't turn our pocketbook over to Him. So God's getting right to the heart of the matter, isn't He? He says if you will bring all the tithes into the storehouse, He said there'll be food in My house. You try Me and see if it doesn't work says the Lord of hosts. And here's what will happen, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of hosts; "And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.

So what are you saying Pastor? I'm saying here is a divine command that effects the way we live here, earthly things, our substance. And Jesus is just simply saying if you won't take truth as it relates to living here, why do you want to talk about or even expect the windows of heaven to open if you're not going to trust God with your finances? Some people think that preachers talk about money just for the sake of money. You observe and I observe, God is very generous with us in our church. It's not an issue of need. The sad issue is that if you don't give God your pocketbook you won't get heaven's best. That's a fact. If you want to open up the windows of heaven, you just start being honest with God with your finances and you will find amazing things happen. It's that simple. Nicodemus, if you're not going to let truth as you know it in this life effect the way you live, why should I talk about spiritual things? heavenly things?

Now I've got to hurry because I'm past time. Nicodemus, let's bring this conversation to a close you missed Me when I talked about being born again. You talked about natural birth. You missed Me when I talked about the wind because you said I didn't get a word of it dear Jesus, or Jesus. And Nicodemus it's obvious that your heart still has a lot of unbelief. You choose not to believe. Verse 14, Nicodemus I'm going to make this thing as simple, I'm going to bring this conversation to a close as simple as I can. Do you remember back in the Old Testament, Nicodemus, when the people complained about the food that was being baked in heaven by the angels - called the manna? Do you remember that? Yeah I remember, Nicodemus said, I remember that. Do you remember what happened? Yeah, God sent serpents into the camp and those serpents started biting people and they started dying because they were complaining against God. Old Nicodemus said, yeah I remember that story. Do you remember what happened? They cried out to Moses and said Moses pray to your God so He'll get these serpents out of our camp. And what does God do? He said Moses just take and make a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, set it in the middle of the camp, and everybody who looks at that serpent will be healed. It's that simple. You don't have to go out and make any ointments. You don't have to fight the serpents. It's just simple. Look at the serpent, you're healed.

Nicodemus, that's simple, isn't it? Yes. The same thing was true in the New Testament, Nicodemus, they're going to lift Me up. For that word lifting up means hanging on a pole. They're going to hanging Me on a pole. They're going to lift Me up, Nicodemus, and I'm going to die on the cross for your sins. And all you've got to do is put your trust in Me and be saved. Now isn't that amazing? Nicodemus, if you missed everything else you can't miss this illustration. All they did it is look and they lived. All you've got to do is turn to Me and trust, and you'll be saved. Isn't that fascinating how Jesus ended that complex conversation with such simple instructions? And ladies and gentlemen, that is the gospel. That's the gospel. (Congregation claps) Amen.

Lord Jesus, we sometimes get just as confused about these spiritual issues as old Nicodemus did. We don't understand them just like he didn't. We try, but we can sure understand that last illustration where dying people bitten by snakes just had to look at that snake on a pole and they were immediately well. And You have made the gospel that simple. All we must do is turn to Jesus Christ and put our trust in Him, and we are granted the gift of life the eternal. Every head is bowed, and every eye is closed. You say, Pastor, I now understand that putting my trust in Jesus is that simple, and I want to do that right now. I'm just going to raise my hand and by raising my hand I'm saying Jesus today I look to You and trust You as my Savior. Yes, yes, yes, yes. You say, is it that simple? That's what the Scripture says, doesn't it? I must be lifted up so whosoever believes in Me shall have life eternal. Just trust in Christ. Turn your life over to Him, and the most exciting journey begins - that's the journey to heaven. Thank you dear Jesus for this wonderful group of people. Thank you for Your Word, and now may Your blessings journey with us. Amen. I pray that you'll join with us this evening as Brother Ron Walters comes to preach at 5 o'clock. God bless you all.