The Nicodemus In Me

05/14/21 • 20 min

Support Us: https://www.tylerarobertson.com/support
READ>>>https://www.tylerarobertson.com/post/the-nicodemus-in-me

We open to John chapter three with a man who is desperate to meet a very busy teacher. But I love how Jesus is open and willing to leave the ninety and nine, so save just one. Think of all Jesus was up to in Jerusalem--miracles, messages, town’s people constantly trying to get His attention. But in the midst of it all His focus turned to one that was longing for answers. A Pharisee of all people, named Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was a “man of the Pharisees...a ruler of the Jews.” (V.1). The law was his life. Tradition was his meaning. The Pharisees were the strictest sect of Judaism and known for their piety and commitment to oral laws. They were rigidly legalistic in their interpretation of the Torah, which was a recipe for mechanical and heartless religion.
But before we point the finger at someone like Nicodemus, I think it is important to note the first three words of the chapter three, “There was a man...” Through all of the attire of a “master of Israel--through all the knowledge of the law--he was still just a man. He was a man like you and I that didn’t have the answers and desperately needed Jesus.

If we are honest with ourselves we all have a little bit of “Pharisee” in us, don’t we? We all have the attitude of self-exaltation and pride waiting to pear its ugly head from time to time. Here are a few ways I think us--even as God’s children--can favor the attitudes of the Pharisees:

We value Rules more than Relationship

One of the most dangerous things about the Pharisees was that they externalized religion. They tried to make a work of the heart into a work of the hands. This is why many of them put so much emphasis on the rules of the law and rejected a relationship with Jesus...
We are a friend to friends, not a friend to sinners

You’ve heard the phrase, “It’s us four and no more!” That is the attitude of many of God’s children. That’s why we are called God’s children, because we often act like it! We like our clicks and little groups and express no interest in allowing outsiders to be a part. We like the Pharisees often times turn our heads at those who are not just like us. And every time we do, we are putting to death every chance of Christ to live in and though us...
We magnify other faults and minimize our own

We certainly love the spotlight don’t we? The glamour of being the center of attention is all too exhilarating for our pride. But when it comes to our faults and failures, we’d rather someone else steal the show! The thought of the world seeing our “dirty laundry” motivates a stealthy act to hide in shadows and put someone else in the spotlight...
We trust the knowledge of men over God’s wisdom

We live in a s

Support the show

FREE Ebook - My Time with God: Four Helps for a Better Devotional Life
FREE PAPERBACK!! Grab a copy of Restless: Finding Rest In A Restless World to follow along on our current study.
FREE Business Gameplan - Schedule a custom gameplan in this free one-on-one coaching session.
Connect with us on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Youtube!

Support Us: https://www.tylerarobertson.com/support
READ>>>https://www.tylerarobertson.com/post/the-nicodemus-in-me

We value Rules more than Relationship

We live in a s

Support the show

Previous Episode

3 Ways God Moves Us To Pray

Support Us: https://www.tylerarobertson.com/support

READ3 Ways God Moves Us to Pray - https://www.tylerarobertson.com/post/3-ways-god-moves-us-pray

It amazes me that I have the privilege to stand in the presence of God and commune with him each day. The words of David often come to mind,

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? " Psalm 8:4.

I do not come into His presence because I am worthy but because Jesus Christ is worthy! He has made Himself an advocate for me and “ever liveth to make intercession.”

I can come and dwell under in the prayer closet, finding rest, peace, and strength for my journey. But isn’t it amazing how we find so many excuses for not coming into the prayer closet? We say silly things like,

I have so much to do! I just don’t have time to pray!

I don't know what to pray for?

I don’t believe God is hearing me!

Who is it helping anyway?

I wonder how many other people missed out on a blessing because we failed to pray for them? I wonder what we have missed because we believed the lie our prayers have not worked.

A.J. Gordon said this, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.”

God wishes to show us great and mighty things if only we will call unto Him.

How does God move us to pray?

He Desires Us to Pray

The simple fact that the omnipotent, all-powerful, and all-knowing God desires to be personally involved in our lives should move us to our knees! “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” I John 3:1.

It humbles me to know that the God whom I often disappoint still desires to have my time and attention. He longs for our deepest desires--our greatest secrets.

He Demands Us to Pray

Prayer is not just a good practice but a required one for Believers. When God came to Jeremiah in a jail cell, He spoke in the imperative, “Call unto me...” It wasn’t a question but a command. Jesus said to His disciples,

“Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus was teaching his disciples the importance of communing with God on a regular basis, as it was vital to their spiritual growth. Now I know what you’re thinking,

Why would a loving God make a requirement to pray? Doesn’t that seem a little much?

But remember, just because it is a command does not mean that He takes away your free will. He still gives you a choice. When God makes a command it is a test of obedience and loyalty. Faithfulness to the prayer closet is a reflection of your devotion to God.

How is your obedience in the area of prayer?

He Drives Us to Pray

Hard times mold us. They move us closer to the image of our L

Support the show

Next Episode

Nicodemus: The Man with Many Questions

Imagine the privilege of being able to ask Jesus questions. How amazing would that be? Last week, we were introduced in our study of John 3—JESUS: The Only Way—to a man loaded with questions and desperate for answers. Nicodemus was equipped with the law, but faith was far from him. Unfortunately, I believe there are many people in our world that look at Jesus with the same wonder.

Is he really the God man?

Why did He come?

Did He even exist?

What does it mean to be saved?

Can He save me?

We will dive deeper into Jesus’ words soon, but for now let’s take a quick look into the questions that Nicodemus brought before Jesus. Maybe you or someone you know might have a few things in common with the man that met Jesus by night.

He questioned who Jesus was.

John 3:2 says, “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.”

Nicodemus uses the plural pronoun “we” indicating that he might be representing other Pharisees with the same questions. Whether his trip was business or personal the consensus still remains that he was not quite sure who Jesus was.

I believe all faiths have their roots embedded in the response to this question: “Who is Jesus?“ It’s amazing the diverse responses you will get to such a simple question. Jesus even questioned His own disciples about this very thing in Mark 8.

“And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?" And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ,” (Mark 8:27-29).

It’s one thing to believe that Jesus existed in history, and another to believe that Christ is the Son of God, Saviour of the world! He came to call “sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32) and give light to a dark world, black from sin.

Who is Jesus to you?

He confused spiritual things with physical things.

Imagine the look on Nicodemus’s face. I must what? Be born again? We know that Nicodemus was confused because he immediately thought of a physical birth instead of a spiritual birth. Jesus explains further, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” (John 3:6).

I believe many people are right where Nicodemus is here. They try to make faith tangible. Something they can do or see that will pay their sin debt and set their souls free. Being saved has everything to do with your spirit and soul being renewed by faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation is an internal work, not an external effort.

No sacraments

No traditions

No church membership

No accolades or accomplishments

No good thing can give eternal life outside of faith in the Gospel. Jesus is the only way!

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “

Support the show

The Faith, Family & Focus Podcast - The Nicodemus In Me

Transcript

Back to Basic Collection

Jesus: The Only Way

The Nicodemus in Me

Some people are hard to reach. The American “dream” has engulfed many people’s time into a drunken stoop of work-a-holism and busy schedules. You try to schedule a meeting with them, but something seems to always get in the way, and plans must be once again be rearranged.

We open to John chapter three with a man who is desperate to meet a very busy