Pastor Russ Fochler shares the significance of Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus about being "born from above" and the necessity of being born of water and the Spirit. There is much we can learn from the way that Jesus engaged with Nicodemus that can make us wiser disciple-makers among our friends, neighbors and co-workers. blazingfire.org To listen to the talk, go to https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-vi8i4-d3e2eb

1. Born From Above
Russ Fochler
February 15, 2020

2. “The genuine light that gives light to all humankind was
in the world. And although the world was made through
him, the world did not recognize him. He came to his
own people, but they did not accept him.
To everyone who accepted him, to everyone who
believed his Name he gave the right to become children
of God.
Children not from a woman, nor from the purposes of
the natural realm, nor from the purposes of a man, but
born from God.”
John 1:11-13 The Source Translation

3. Summary of the Gospel of John Chapter 2:
• The Wedding in Cana
• Jesus goes to the Temple for Passover. When he sees
the merchants and money changers in the Temple
Court - he drives them out.
• Jesus challenges leaders about the importance and
permanence of the Temple building (their pride and
joy) while actually referring to Himself.

4. While Jesus was at the Passover Feast, the number
of his followers began to grow, and many gave their
allegiance to him because of all the miraculous signs
they had seen him doing! But Jesus did not yet
entrust himself to them, because he knew how
fickle human hearts can be. He didn’t need anyone
to tell him about human nature, for he fully
understood what man was capable of doing.
John 2:23-25 The Passion Translation

5. Nicodemus
Now there was a prominent religious
leader among the Jews named
Nicodemus, who was part of the sect
called the Pharisees and a member of
the Jewish ruling council. One night
he discreetly came to Jesus and said,
“Master, we know that you are a
teacher from God, for no one
performs the miracle signs that you
do, unless God’s power is with him.”
John 3:1-2 TPT

6. Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, listen to this
eternal truth: Before a person can perceive God’s
kingdom realm, they must first experience a
rebirth.”
gennēthē γεννηθῇ born, begotten
anōthen ἄνωθεν from above, from the top/
beginning again/anew
Nicodemus said, “Rebirth? How can a gray-
headed man be reborn? It’s impossible for a man
to go back into the womb a second time and be
reborn!” John 3:3-4 TPT

7. How Would You Briefly Describe Your
“Born From Above” Experience to
Someone You’re Helping Disciple?
I’ll give you 2 minutes to consider this.
When I announce it’s time: Please find
someone else and then take turns sharing
your answer. Groups of 2
3 minutes each to share

8. Jesus answered, “I speak an eternal truth: Unless
you are born of water and Spirit-wind, you will
never enter God’s kingdom realm. For the natural
realm can only give birth to things that are
natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to
supernatural life!
“You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement, ‘You
must be born from above!’ For the Spirit-wind
blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound, but
you don’t know where it came from or where it’s
going. So it is within the hearts of those who are
Spirit-born!” John 3:6-8 TPT

9. Then Nicodemus replied, “But I don’t understand,
what do you mean? How does this happen?”
10 Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, aren’t you the
respected teacher in Israel, and yet you don’t
understand this revelation? 11 I speak eternal truths
about things I know, things I’ve seen and
experienced—and still you don’t accept what I
reveal. 12 If you’re unable to understand and believe
what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what
will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly
realm? 13 No one has risen into the heavenly realm
except the Son of Man who also exists in
heaven.”[h John 3:9-12 TPT

10. Questions For Disciple-Makers
• How was Jesus using this moment to reveal his
Father’s kingdom?
• How did he relate differently to different people in
the story and why?
• How is this preparing us for the coming harvest?

11. Jesus Makes A Remarkable Comparison
So, just as Moses lifted up
the snake in the desert, in
the same way the son of
man must be lifted up, so
that everyone who believes
in him may share in the life
of God’s new age.
John 3:14-15 The Kingdom New
Testament by N.T. Wright
Echis coloratus (saw-scale viper) inhabit
deserts in Middle East, prefer rocky terrain,
are deadly poisonous, extremely
dangerous, have an especially painful
"fiery" bite, reddish "fiery" color, lightning
fast strike, leaping/"flying" strike, and
cause death by internal bleeding.

12. God’s Love
“For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his
one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone
who believes in him will never perish but experience
everlasting life.
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge and
condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!
So now there is no longer any condemnation for those
who believe in him, but the unbeliever already lives
under condemnation because they do not believe in the
name of God’s beloved Son.” John 3:16-18 TPT

13. Judgment: An Opinion
or Decision
This is the judgment: the light has come into the world and
people loved the darkness instead of the light, for their
actions were evil.
Everyone who commits thoughtless acts hates the light and
does not go towards the light, otherwise their actions will
be exposed.
But the person who has the truth moves towards the light,
so that it may be revealed that their actions have been
carried out with God
John 3:19-20 The Source

14. Questions For Disciple-Makers
• What truth about the Father’s heart (His ways, His
motives) is Jesus displaying?
• What aspect(s) of God’s love are we to learn and live
out?
• How is this preparing us for the coming harvest?

15. And so the Living Expression
became a man and lived among us!
And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory,
the glory of the One and Only
who came from the Father overflowing
with tender mercy and truth!
John 1:14 TPT