Alive But Dead Inside | Pastor Shane Idleman

scripture, we have to go through it verse by verse. And Paul actually gets political. Believe it or not, he gets political because he says, Wait a minute, you're not throwing me out of here. I have rights. I'm a Roman citizen. And it really shows that they had certain rights at that point. And remember when we talk about rights, we are talking about God given rights. That's why we fight for them. They're called God given rights. The right to freely worship God. That should be guarded. And you've heard of the right to life movement. Who's going to be the voice for a little nine month old that now you can kill. And some say, we have lost our mind. You want me to be quiet? You want me to shut up? How can we can't? We have to be vocal. And that's the problem is the pulpits have been silent. That's why we're in the predicament we're in. I don't want to offend people. But if the word and the truth offends, let it fall where it falls. Jesus says, won't be to you when all men speak well of you. You're trying to please men. You don't please the father. That's how it works. Now, of course, our attitudes should be gracious and loving and humble. Guys, I'm trying. But sometimes you get ticked off too. And you have to just, you know, speak the truth and love. I don't know if we even we do have it. Check this out. This is a constitution of California. Let's read it together. We the people of the state of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom in order to secure. I'm going to lose my mind here. For those on for those listening on radio, what we said was the people of state of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Why do we have our freedom in order to secure and perpetuate? That means to continue the blessings that God has given us. That's why they established a constitution when you so when people say too political, no, we're going back to the original intent. That's why we want people in positions of leadership who will make a difference, especially in the area of governor have huge ramifications. And it's just amazing that talking about drifting pretty far, we have made a complete reversal. And I don't know how many of you know, St. Augustine, but from his book City of God to Calvin's work in Geneva and from William Wilberforce to today's current movements, laws have consequences and leaders shape destiny. A Christian whose heart has been has been changed by the gospel wants to make a difference. We want to be a voice for the unborn. We want to end trafficking. We want so people say, here's the thing I get from pastors. I just, I don't preach, I don't preach politics. I just preach the gospel. And I like what Pastor Jack Hibbs says to them, then you need to repent.

Because there's a lie that says they're separate, be quiet, because when the gospel changed my heart, I want to make a difference in society. How do you separate the two? What that really is, it's a coward who doesn't want to offend. Any pastor says, I don't get political. I don't go there. I just preach the gospel is not wanting to offend people. Now, granted, they don't need to make it every Sunday. They don't need to make, but when you get to parts of the word, if you're preaching, unless you're a motivational speaker, then don't be a pastor. Go be Tony Robbins. But pastors are called to speak the truth in love. And so Acts, where we find ourselves, in Acts 16, you know, it's funny, I just have to say this, but those people who don't want to get political get very political when the policies affect them. People are not political, hey, they're going to put registered sex vendor on your street. Oh, they'll be down at city council. They'll be wanting to vote propositions in, all kinds of things. But they don't realize that it is affecting them and their children at a very deep level. And we'll eventually have enormous consequences. And so when it was day, well, I probably should tell you where we're at here, the, the Apostle Paul and Silas were locked up in prison. And the jailer came to faith in Christ, God broke off their chains. And that's where it says in when it was day, the magistrate sent the officers, so the governing authority sent to the police officers basically, "Hey, go ahead and let those men go. We just beat the snot out of them." And they stayed in prison overnight, so go tell them, "You can just go now." So the keeper of the prison reported these things to Paul, "Hey, our politicians said that you can go now. Sorry for the hassle. Now therefore depart and go in peace." And Paul said to them, "And I guarantee this was not quiet and laid back." I mean, there's an explanation point on this. They have beaten us openly, un-condemned Romans, and they've thrown us into prison. Hello? And now they just want to put us out secretly. No, indeed, let them come themselves and get us out. I have rights.

And so I want to talk about these things actually short in the sermon up, so it wasn't about this. It's more about the last half. In short, Paul saying, "I have rights and I'm going to exercise those rights." How do we exercise rights today? It's called a political process. Oh man, there is so much. Do you know what's going on in Canada or Australia with freedom of speech? England, UK, it's ugly, it's ugly, and this is where our nation is going. If there's not a mighty massive awakening from God and hopefully a political revolution that is God-centered, God-focused, can you imagine God going to Trump and senators and dreams and visions and waking them up to really seeking Him? That's our hope, guys. Democrat, Republican, I mean, independent, we just need the right people in positions of leadership. So here's the thing, in case those don't know, politics, the word actually means governing leading a group of people. So if you don't like that word, how about just does God's word say anything about governing people? It does. The role, actually, why God instituted, at first it was a monarchy in the Old Testament. It was God. And then, you know, a series of events, there's different nations and different things. So the role, God says, "Okay, I've got the institution of family to obviously have kids and be a blessing on the earth, the rule of the earth." And then I have the institution now, the church for 2,000 years. These are God's institutions to come together, corporately get my message out. Now, who's going to protect those two institutions, the government? God's thing. So people get upset about that, you just need a point in the scripture.

God did this. So the purpose is to restrain evil and deter wrongdoing. And I can hear it now, people say, "But Shane, you can't legislate morality. No, but you can restrain evil." What if the punishment was for trafficking the death penalty? You take a four-year-old, you're going to be killed. I have no problem with that. Get it on tape. Audio, I don't care. God's word is behind that, too. Now, I can't do it vigilant, you know, that it would be a left to the court system. But the punishment fits the crime. You would see things drop considerably, without a shadow of a doubt. And so see, when you begin to minimize the punishment, you increase crime. And that's why God's word, it was, I mean, you read the Old Testament, I mean, you keep yourself in order, adulterous and adulterer, men, women, you be stoned to death. You think that might deter it a little bit? I don't know. You take a life, it costs your life. And it wasn't 14 years of appeals and a million dollars in taxpayers' money. It was a witness, witnesses, trial, execution, man. That's how you deter evil. When you start to like slap hands and, yeah, and just, what happens is a lot of, a lot of politicians without the spirit of God, they don't know what the problem is. So they think they can throw more money at it to fix the problem. It's billions and boy. They how do you spend billions of dollars and Have a worse problem because it's also spiritual Yes, many are legitimate, but many are drug addicted and what's the solution? Give them work that put them in housing. No, you got to get it's a spiritual issue And so we see all these they don't have the spirit of God

So they think that will we if we could just rehabilitate and I love rehabilitation But the best way to real rehabilitate someone is to change them from the inside out. You give them the gospel That's how they change. You know just the more money that programs. Okay, go to anger management try to do better next time Breathe first where where a rubber band just Zap yourself when you feel like getting angry and let's just rehabilitate them You you need to get the gospel back into prisons and That's how you truly change prisoners and praise God if it goes well, Kevin's got me I'm preaching about 700 prisoners October 1st with Richard doing worship up and so that's how you that's how you change the heart and I have a heart for those in prison because Had I been caught Like don't look at me that way. You know, you know many of you. You should do some time How many of you drunk drove drunk Okay went on his person - A felony after many times how many of you, you know, let's I will get into details But but that's why you you just didn't get caught There's a grace of God and so we have a passion for those people and individuals But any time you minimize the penalty the pain You will you will increase evil and that's what's happening especially in California when they got that that that DA out and see Paul see you politics matters a DA that puts registered sex offenders back in to society who who have been convicted of incredible crimes and They say oh my heart's better than your heart. No, it's not Because you don't care for the victims Sex of it give everybody the gospel the gospels never you never too far gone for anything But you also have to protect that's the role of government and Paul saying you should have protected me you didn't protect me God gives people freedom and those freedoms are protected by legislation Well government is evil. Yeah, you get a lot of people into something. Yeah, it becomes evil He spotted that one, but I think there's a difference between North Korea and America Anybody want to go live in Syria Iran

Iraq Afghanistan much of Africa We have been blessed That's why what Wanna reemphasize is God brought people in and made legislation and that you could even run for government unless you believed in God and they base the form of government judiciary Congress and and the president on I believe it was One of the prophets God will be your judge your law giver and your king That's where it came from they reference the Bible four times more than any other source a church is not Tax exempt status comes from the book of Ezra they would quote all and they would use God They want a God's word to be the foundation if it had a law a punishment It had the scripture next to it and so we have been given incredible gift You actually have a republic and Was Benjamin Franklin said if you can keep it So I like this topic because it's important to God and Whatever is important to God is important to us whatever he thinks is a priority is a priority to us and laws protect those who need protecting and When we get out of that process we have what we have We are called to be salt and light in all areas of society, so there goes the argument of Not voting and not getting involved and I know I know right now There's a lot of people who will not vote November and I want to just let remind you that you are voting When you say at home you just voted Probably for the wrong person by silence because in order to get the right person it takes more votes Unfortunately, that's the world we live in [BLANK_AUDIO] That's so lesser to the evils well Who's gonna fulfill the role of government the best the role not not not and does nice tweets Not as pastor-in-chief who's gonna protect you for my ran China The they want to come in the who who's gonna protect you and your kids

And if you're for open borders, why don't you leave your doors unlocked and your windows open? No, let's be honest. Can we just be honest today? Every day, okay, yeah So let me here's the thing I could care less about politics when I was younger. I want a corona and lime and We'll make lots of money But when you start to have kids and you start to get a little older you realize just how important it is so Register and at least make your voice known I Want to put up a few quotes just to before I'm gonna transition to about the gospel in just a minute But I want to just put up some quotes from 1800s and those days politics were preached in the pulpits and men were led to action On the side of freedom by faithful pastors see I read Spurgeon sermons where he came against slavery Same with Whitfield same with Wesley Billy Graham got in trouble in the fifties for and and so you see it It's throughout our our history of a nation because people would come to church before Facebook and Social media and then somebody who's spending time in God's word Discerning the times knows what an elected officials believe know about legislation They would tell the people how to vote and who to vote for based on what God's word says that's where people come they're hungry for it and Then a guy by the name of Johnson you ever heard of him Got upset that the churches came against him and so he came up with the Johnson amendment That says if you get political you can lose your tax exempt status And I was part of a group of pastors we we we we definitely broke that rule and we sent our messages to the IRS Because like we would love that court case You can win it easily the Supreme Court level, especially now Why especially now? Leadership matters Do you realize where we would be if we had the all nine Supreme Court justices said we don't know what a woman is I'm not a biologist Okay, do you guys know she knows what it is she just can't say it because of the woke agenda

That's of course. She knows hello She's I'm gonna alienate half the nation. No, you're probably gonna nally it like a small percentage of the nation What how is the majority taken over the majority? There's not a lot of people that are behind these crazy thoughts where men can have women It's demonic making it win make that babies It is it's it's demonic and Every time I speak on these things we think the church will lose attendance It usually maintains or gains Because people 91 percent of all Americans want to hear the truth from the pulpits of America They do And so that's why I have no problem saying these things because it's been it's been throughout church history again John Calvin in his book city of God read it John can I'm sorry Augustine 350 360 370 80 Was what the whole book is about that city of God? Politics built on God's word same with John Calvin and Geneva same with the reform was all throughout now There's errors inside of those things and it would nobody does things perfectly But we should be passionate in this area. What about the House and Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1800s Okay, can you imagine the House and Senate Judiciary Committee? Now? This is a committee from the House and Senate that is involved in Judicial matters they said in this age there can be no substitute for Christianity That was the religion of the founders of this republic and they expect it to remain the religion of their descendants William Penn founder of Pennsylvania The or the or basically where it originated all human power where Originated was from God first That's where the political power comes from from God first. It's to terrify evil doers Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself. And I mean, I had, I could say here for two hours,

so I'm not gonna bore you. But how about a signer of the Declaration of Independence? I love this one. I conjure you. Hope I pronounce that right. Conjure? Sounds good, conjure? Oh, let's just say. How about, I very seriously want you to listen to this. By all, can you hear his heart here? By all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that you pray, but men of God, you've got to act. You've got to act. (audience applauding) What does that mean? Take it to the Lord. Most of you are not gonna be as vocal as me. That's okay. God has called me to do this. I'm not embarrassed. I'm not backing away. I spend countless hours seeking his face, fasting in his word, humbling me. And so when he puts us on my heart, if I don't, I go home and I regret it for a long time. Oh, by the way, the signers of the Declaration of Independence have for them were ordained ministers of the gospel. And when they signed that independence, they signed their death sentence,

their death, the warrant for their death. That was treason by hanging. Can you imagine this? If you watch the Young George Washington movie that's out, he was actually, it was before America was born. But once they defined that independence of Britain, they signed off on it, if they lost, all of them in would be hung for treason. Their farms burned, their families imprisoned, and yet they trusted Almighty God. Okay, that's my vent on politics. Now we can get to the message alive but dead inside. So the officers told these words to the magistrates and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. So the police officers go back to the elected officials, wait, these guys are Romans, he's ticked off. Paul is demanding to see you because they actually broke the law. Did you know politicians can break the law? (audience laughs) Do you guys know that? And that's another thing, you call them out, you make legislation, then they came and pleaded with them. Because what could have happened is Paul could have taken this hire and really had a good point to where these guys would possibly be imprisoned in themselves and beaten themselves. And so they came and they pleaded with Paul. And please just leave the city. So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia

and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. I kind of, I'm frustrated but I get it and I like Paul's heart, he just let it go. Is that cool? He didn't press it. However though, he did challenge. He didn't just leave quietly. He challenged, he was bald, he was assertive and because of that the guys were like, oh no, please leave. And he said, who knows what else they said. He could have said, just I'm leaving but look at the lesson that left those guys instead of Paul being vengeful and hatred, he probably witnessed about Jesus and he left and they're like, that was a close one. So what I like those, he was bold when he needed to be bold and he was compassionate when he needed to be compassionate. Here's where we have it wrong in our churches. We are always bold and sometimes you need to be compassionate but many of you are very compassionate and you need to get a little boldness going. You need a little holy fire. Never call out anybody on social media. They're happy posts and they're garbage. Sometimes every now and then let them have it. In love, in love. Hey, I've been reading your post for six months. I just have to call you on a lot of things. God is real, atheism is a lie

and you speak the truth in love. It's not always about compassion. All you have to do is look at the words of Jesus. Sometimes we should balance those. For every turn the other cheek, he didn't turn the other cheek. You guys know that when he got slapped, he didn't turn the other cheek. What did he do? He got bold. Why have you slapped me? What evil have I done? For every love your neighbor, he railed on the Pharisees. We will never do it perfectly, but there needs to be a Time where we do speak the truth and love And then now we go into chapter 17 where we're going to be and for the next few weeks God willing sometimes you might change directions So when they came to Thessalonica, this is actually the town where they wrote Paul wrote to the Thessalonians Where there was a synagogue of the Jews, so this is going to get interesting Paul's going to go into the synagogue as a former Pharisee and he's going to be begin to teach them and So when he went in for three Sabbaths in a row, he reasoned with them from the scriptures I wish we had more on that like exactly How what where when why? contradictions how he explains certain things, but all we have is this part he explained and demonstrated that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and What he said to them was just Jesus who I preached to you is the Christ and some of them were persuaded Some of them were persuaded in a great multitude of devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women They joined Paul and Silas so

Explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead We you know that again that could take a another sermon because you pull in Isaiah and you pull in a lot of the mic you pull in some Old Testament things and that's probably what he did Can you imagine like he rolled the scrolls? He said see right here? This this was fulfilled Not a bone broken Right be beating beyond recognition and the prophets said this remember on the cross. He said You know father do not forsake me and and look what David wrote in the Psalm and and he probably spent time showing him all these Different areas in the Old Testament said look Jesus fulfilled that Jesus who I preached you is the Christ in other words That this is it you we hear it. We're like, yeah, that makes sense, but to hear it and That in other words what they've been following for centuries Listing their prophets reading the prophets Waiting for their soon coming waiting for the Messiah Paul said that was him How's that gonna go over? Wait, wait a minute that that the guy they put on the cross Yeah, remember that as a lamb is led to the slaughter he opened not his mouth Do you remember you remember back in Leviticus without the shedding of blood? There is no remission of sin and the Passover look at this Passover that whoever put the blood on it was spared and whoever puts the blood of Jesus I bet Paul just was exploding inside Because he knew the Old Testament better than anybody in this room or listening no doubt and so he's saying So they had that there was a I mean you could probably hear the gas in the room people talking like is he because this is the biggest thing in Their world the Messiah coming Wait a minute. I thought he was supposed to conquer Rome. I thought he was and so Paul's deflecting all of these these rebuttals and things like that, but at some point though, it says and some were Persuaded some were Persuaded what does that word mean? Some were convinced

By his persuasion explanation and we find this I think as we get more along Paul is in front in front of King Agrippa, and he says I would to God that I would persuade you and Jesus you can almost hear like Jerusalem Jerusalem I Wanted to gather you. I want to gather you as hints, but you were not willing And if you look at that Greek word it wing you mean basically you were not persuaded You didn't embrace me So just to be honest and transparent this morning One of the reasons Although I like some of the points one of the reasons I don't embrace Calvinism five point Calvinism You know you you you you know election So the persuasion there's no persuasion. You're not persuading anybody because when God chooses your elect For example, if I chose if he says Phil you're chosen So actually they believe in the order of salvation is called ordo salidio or something in Latin the order of salvation that he Before he can have faith and repent and believe He gets the Holy Spirit first So now that you have the Holy Spirit now you can Have faith and repent and believe but when I read the Bible, it's like Have faith believe repent and then you get the Holy Spirit So but they had but that so that's why and you see Paul persuading people you see Jesus persuading people you see you know people just persuading would be to God because They this would not be true Based on how I understand God's election based on Calvinism if that makes sense So that's why although I agree with perseverance of the saints and not losing your salvation I don't agree that that I believe that God gives people the ability to accept or reject him That's not a good work just like Adam God gave Adam the ability to accept To turn to sin or not to sin doesn't mean he had evil in him

He was created good But they have this ability to accept or reject and when they Reject their their pay the penalty is hell the punishment separation from God and that's why in preaching and you'll see You'll see somebody who believes in Calvinism versus what I believe that even the preaching is different Because I'm trying to persuade I'm trying to just let the holy but but this person would know that there's nothing they can do It doesn't matter. I mean that it matters because it's a commandment, but You know God's gonna draw who he's gonna draw. It's not you know I'm not really gonna persuade anybody. It's it's according so I get it, but that's that's just a side note why I can't embrace the full on election that people have no choice in the matter because it actually the way I understand God is You're punished because of the choice you did or didn't make if you can't make that choice How can you be punished? It's like me telling anybody have a six-month-old Or three-month-old it'd be me like telling them commanding them to walk And then punishing them because they can't walk So when God says repent, I don't wish any she perish repent believe the gospel that tells me people Designed by God not a good work Design by God people have the ability to either accept him or reject him granted. There's a role the Holy Spirit There's a conviction ascend. Nobody comes to the father of us the sunless the father draws him that we're decamoy And there's there's there's there's there's there's a lot of things there, but that's a side note why I believe in Powerful Holy Spirit inspired bold preaching because you can persuade people All I do is look at Jesus's sermons and words I look at Paul's sermons even even Charles Spurgeon Even you see these these people that even even even Calvinist on there's a persuasion there there there there there there They're trying to compel men. Would you turn to God? Would you turn to him and live? Can you imagine if that was gone? Like I I asked somebody that a friend of mine. He started church. It didn't work out Back when we started this church and I go, but if it doesn't matter Cuz think about it. It really doesn't matter if you show up or not Correct God's gonna elect who's gonna elect

Doesn't matter what you say. It doesn't matter your sermon. Don't you can why even show up? Goes well because I'm commanded to And yes, he's commanded to show up and pre so but that but you can tell there's just no there's no passion in his heart There's no zeal there's no it doesn't cuz it really doesn't matter if you if you think it through other than you're being obedient to the preaching of the word So it says here and some of them were persuaded and again if we look this word up You can cross reference it where it's used elsewhere you can strong exhaust exhaustive concordance of the Bible you can look at commentaries and it's it's somebody was going they're not Convinced and yet you convince them by scripture. They are persuaded to change their view based on his preaching and what he said and So what I wanted to share with you for this portion is something I've actually never went through verse by verse that I think of even to suffer and the born again experience and persuading people, what really stood out this week was John 3 16. It wasn't written yet, but I'm sure it was no doubt preached in their hearts. They would travel and they would preach John 3 16. And the reason is many were alive spiritually, but they were dead inside. That's the title of the message for that reason. Many people are alive. Their bodies are alive, but they are dead inside. An interesting thing with John 3 16, isn't it? It's revered, correct for us, but it's also mocked. It's cherished, but it's also scorned. And it's this incredible verse that we love the verse, but when you see it abused, ready for 1990s, Austin 3 16. You guys don't know it? How many don't know it? I'm talking about. Okay, good. That's pretty good. But even as a prodigal I cringed when I saw that, what it is, is that famous wrestler, Stone Cold Steve Austin. He started put Austin 3 16 on everything because one wrestler quoted scripture and he said, yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna Austin 3 16 you. I'm gonna destroy you base. And that was there. Then that went viral. It was everywhere. And even even as a prodigal, in my late 20s, probably think, or I don't know when he started, but I was like, oh, not a good idea. Not a good idea. And so it's mocked. It's scorned people, even on social media. Where's your God now? This God who so loved the world. How is he allowing this in the anniversary of September 11th? Of course they don't, they don't want to, if they were really, if they were really seeking, they'd be open to hear the truth about it. The truth about it is God is there, but we live in a very evil, fallen, sinful world. So there's still disease, there's still violence, there's still all these things. We are out of control, yet God is still there. If everything was good, we would be in heaven. We're not in heaven. We're

still on this God forsaken earth that they call. It's not God forsaken. He's still there. I can't explain it. I can't, why do good things happen to bad people? I'm sorry. That too, I get that too. Prophets had a problem with that too. Why are they prospering? Why are the wicked prospering? But why do bad things happen to good people? And as a reminder, bad has only happened one time in human history and he volunteered when a bad thing happened to a good person because we are, well, Jesus of course, but we live in this fallen world and in that there's sickness, there's disease, there's violence, there's things that don't make sense and many times that draws us closer to the Lord and people come to faith in Christ through it. And so let's talk about that for a minute. On three, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Now Paul could have even been telling some of this story because this book of John wasn't written as they're going through the, as we're in Acts, these gospels have not been written yet. However, the stories were still told from day one because they were there. That's how they got a lot of things out oral interpretation. And so there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the Jews. Check this out. A ruler of the Jews who did not truly know God. Many of these people will go through the motions, go through the rituals and maybe, you know, again, commentators are divided, you know, before Jesus were some of these Pharisees or religious leaders, were they saved because they were, they were following the Torah, they were doing the sacrificial system, the blood and, and, and, you know, I'll leave that between them and God. But we do know now that Jesus is here, this Nicodemus, he was a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night. And there's a couple reasons why he might have done that. Number one, embarrassed. I'm trying to relate this to people. Many listening are too embarrassed to talk about Jesus. Do you know why that is because a person's not filled mindly with the spirit of God. Because when you are, you're not embarrassed to talk about Jesus. You could care less. And this I was in the Secret Service. Secret Service Christian. Because right when you're chasing the world, the things of God are embarrassing. Because you want to be Mr. Tough Guy.

Man, I don't know if I can write Jesus. My mom goes to church and raises her hand and acts weird. But that's not me, I'm Mr. Tough Guy. And so we have this persona with our friends. And so we keep God in the closet, like a vacuum. We'll get it when we need it. And that could have been. He was embarrassed. Or he was worried about the opinions of others. Because if the other leaders knew he was going to talk to Jesus, watch out, watch out. And of course, he himself was in darkness. He was in darkness so the things of God and Jesus is going to call him out. And so when he went to Jesus, he said, Rabbi, we know. We know that you are a teacher from God without a shadow of a doubt. This is what I always find interesting. There's no way around this. Blind eyes, people raised from the dead. Just miracles. I mean, it's clearly-- and they had the pride in their heart was so strong. Because they wanted a conquering king to conquer Rome. Not this man born a fornication, they said. We don't know where you're from. Who is this guy telling us what to do? Pride is deadly, isn't it? It's damning. And we know you're from God.

Obviously, creation shouts creator. Look at all these things you're doing, because nobody could do all these things. And Jesus said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So he had religion, but not a relationship. He had a reputation for being alive, but he was dead inside. And you've heard it probably, I think, Time magazine, the '70s and the born-again experience. And oh, have you been born again? And they kind of mocked it and born again. I mean, it's just-- I don't know if it's talked about as much, but when I was growing up, it was mocked a lot. And they'd make fun of you, like a holy roller Christian, Jesus freak, and born again. Sheng got religion. What it means is you're born physically, but unless you are born spiritually into God's kingdom, you will die in your sins. So that's what he's saying. But of course, he's confused. How can I be born again? How do I go back in my mother's womb and be born? And I just wanted you to know this. God appreciates legitimate questions. Don't be afraid of questioning, God. The right kind of questioning. Just the way I said that kind of sounds a little funny. But it's OK to ask to-- like, Lord, why?

What are you doing here? I need some help. Help me understand this. Give me wisdom. Give me insight to this. Help me get through this. Why I don't understand this situation. And because it's in the not understanding that we begin to search him, we begin to seek him with all of our heart. Or if you're like some people too, they get really bitter, negative, and go the other direction. Don't do that. Allow your questions to draw you to the cross. And then I didn't put down, I think, as verses 5 through 13 or so, where they go into this whole thing about the Holy Spirit growing where he wishes. But he gets to verse 14. He says, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the son of man must be lifted up. He's giving him a glimpse into the future. This is pretty cool. And he knows exactly what he's talking about, because when the people were struck by serpents, God was judging them. Their sin had consequences. He said, make a brazen serpent. Actually, it probably looks like the medical symbol, something like that, by the way.

And they put this serpent up. And whoever looked at the serpent, what was it, had faith in God's healing power, looked at the serpent, trusted what he said, had faith in God. They were healed. And here's how it works when I am lifted up. I wonder if Nicodemus thought about this when he saw him lift it up. They call it the place of the skull, Golgotha. And he was lifted up and they would look up and they would see him there. That whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. This is different than Moses's healing by the serpent. That was for physical life. This is for spiritual life. That whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. In other words, God has given this gift of salvation. There's nothing we can do. No good work. Nothing can nothing bridges that gap from how we have sinned against God. Nothing except a sacrifice that pays the price, pays the penalty for sin and death. And when you look at that, when you believe in him, you will have eternal life. And then that's where now the famous verse comes from. For God so loved, verse 16, for God so loved the world. Another reason that I embrace God loving the whole world is because of this verse. It's not just for certain people. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever, whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And that's that call whoever. And that's why you don't give up on people. Have you ever seen it's often the people like there's no way that God grabs your heart and then people think oh they're close. And sometimes he does but often it's to the people who are farthest away though because here's what happens when the darkness is so dark you turn to the light. When God gets you at the rock bottom, at the rock bottom you eventually look at the rock at the bottom. Going through difficult times. Be careful when you're not going through anything challenging because it says it's hard for a rich man to enter heaven. Why is that? Because I have no need for God. I have my bills paid. I make great money. Everything's going good. Boat, a yacht, whatever it is. Toys in the garage, going many vacations. Man everything's good. Why are they going to turn to God? Well you don't want to go to hell. I don't believe in that stuff. Anyway, see how hard that is? That's why sometimes people should praise God that he broke them and humbled them. That's how they knew to cry out to him. And that's also where this big word comes from.

Propitiation. Jesus took our place and absorbed the wrath of God. That's what people need to understand about the cross. If you could simplify it is because of sin we are born into the world and we have sin. I don't think we're born perfect and make bad choices later. I think we're born in sin and that's why it says the wrath of God abides on us because of sin. And so Jesus took the place of that sin. Propitiation absorbed God's wrath on the cross. So many scriptures were fulfilled and that's why we have to repent and believe. We have to believe that God's sacrifice is enough that it was sufficient. That's why belief and faith is so important. And I know I've told this story before but it might be good now for those of you who didn't hear it but it'll kind of help give you a picture of this. Josh is overton. He's really big right now on social media especially the younger crowd but he talks about the story of this king who issues a decree that whoever is caught stealing all of his gold or pulling out gold of the treasury is going to be killed. And months go by and they finally get the little thinker. It's his daughter. She's pulling out the gold and the king is just. The king is fair. He's known for that. He cannot go back just because it's his daughter. And so they set a date for the execution and it's 40 lashings and people can't believe the king's going through with it. they're getting ready to execute the punishment that she deserves the king says hold on and he undoes his shirt and covers and says now hit and he's like I king I can't do that now hit strike and that's what a picture right that's what Jesus did she deserves it but he covers it and that's why there's passion preaching there's urgency preaching the message of the gospel is always urgent and then a verse sometimes people forget about for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved see this is the big miss the big confusion right now Jesus didn't come to condemn the world he came as the lamb that was to be slaughtered but in the future the lamb is coming as the lion of the tribe of Judah and that's why John can see in the future that when he saw heaven open Jesus was coming with the armies of heaven riding on a white horse and his eyes are like flames of fire and he's got all his crowns on his head and on his thigh right thigh is written king of kings and lord of lords and out of his mouth goes a sword that he will strike the nations he will rule those nations with the rod of iron at the right time at the right place he will tread the winepress and the fiercest and the wrath of almighty god but that hasn't come yet that's why preachers plead the blood we we we we encourage

people to turn to god before it's too late so there always should be a conviction but not a condemnation a sense of dread but not a loss of hope this message is so important that we have to be truthful about it we can't candy coat it and sugar coat it they're not there we have to tell people the truth and that's why I love I I've read it before but I just want to do it one more time one of favorite parts of my movie of a movie I like with George Woodfield and when they let him preach he said I will not be a velvet mouth preacher do not be deceived you may have a religious head but a devil in your heart our lord speaks the same words to you as he did Nicodemus you must be born again he was religious he was respected he was renowned he was known for being righteous and still the master commanded him he must be born again would be the god that I would persuade some of you listening maybe not here this morning but listening online listening on radio don't you wish you could talk to people that you know in heaven tell me how heaven is tell me how is heaven guys there's nothing more important than this topic so if you're watching online or you're here are you alive but dead inside did you know the majority of Americans just calling themselves Christian they need they need it they need to listen this message Paul said examine yourselves examine yourselves do you not know that Christ is in you is he in you is there fruit in any fruit at all you might not have a full fig tree but there's a little buddy growing somewhere right you got a little you got some figs hanging you might not have the whole thing full but there's some fruit there's no fruit there's no passion no desire you know about him but you don't know him you have to repent and believe in the gospel repent and believe to be saved you