ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO USE US

Because we have been drawn to Jesus by His Holy Spirit, our lives have been changed forever because we were Born Again.
 
  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. PRESUPPOSITIONS:
      1. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man: LORD.
      2. God chose the Nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation on earth for His name sake.
        "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation... " Exodus 19:6
      3. God's message to John for the Seven Churches calls the Body of Christ to be a kingdom, priests to our Father.
        "And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father... "
        Revelation 1:6


    2. WHAT ARE YOUR LIFE VERSES?
      1. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
      2. "... He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." I Peter 2:24
      3. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
      4. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19/Isaiah 61:1-2
      5. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6


  2. AS A PRIEST, TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT JOHN 3:16.
    1. John 3:16 is the most familiar verse is this passage. From memory,
      who is speaking? _____________________________________________
    2. Who are the possibilities?
    3. Why is this significant to us as priests?


  3. JESUS DIALOGUED WITH NICODEMUS. John 3:1-21
    1. John 3:1-2
      1. Pharisee: a member of an ancient Jewish sect that was very strict in keeping to tradition and the laws of its religion.
      2. pharisee:
        1. A person who makes a show of religion rather than following its spirit; formalist; hypocrite.
        2. A person who considers himself much better than other persons.
    2. John 3:3-5 and Ezekiel 36: 24-28.
      1. Place an X on the timeline where you think we may be concerning "the catching away" of the Church.
        1948_____________________________________Rapture
      2. What are our responsibilities as a kingdom of priests today?
    3. John 3:6-8
      1. Describe how you felt when you were Born Again.
      2. Describe how you felt after your Water Baptism.
      3. Describe how you felt after your Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
    4. John 3:9-12
    5. John 3:13-17
    6. John 3:18-21


  4. PRIESTS IN THE LIGHT BEAR LIGHT BURDENS.
    1. Jesus is the LIGHT of the world. John 1:4-5, 9; John 8:12
      1. Jesus calls believers the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
      2. We are to let our light shine like a city set on a hill.
    2. His burden is LIGHT (weight). Matt. 11:28
      1. We must praise Him. Psalm 103
      2. We must utilize the gifts of the Spirit He has given to us.
      3. We must live a life of perpetual thanksgiving.
      4. We must remember that our purpose in life is to worship, fellowship, disciple, minister, and evangelize.
      5. We must remember to drink plenty of water, eat a good diet, get good rest, exercise, and express our emotions: to love and be loved; laugh heartily, grieve, weep, release the joy.
        1. Multitudes will be changed one by one by a kingdom of priests on the earth.
        2. The people of the world long to see the Living Christ on the earth.


  5. NICODEMUS WAS DRAWN TO THE LIGHT.
    1. He came first by night. John 3:2
    2. He spoke for Jesus in the presence of other priests. John 7:45-51
    3. He came openly to the cross. John 19:38-42


  6. CONCLUSION
    1. Because we have been drawn to Jesus by His Holy Spirit, our lives have been changed forever because we were Born Again.
    2. We know the LIGHT John saw and experienced.
    3. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ will draw other people around us to come to Him openly.
      1. Our job is to witness.
      2. The Holy Spirit will give birth to His Spirit in receptive hearts.
 
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"Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him" (Rev 1:7)