John chapter 3, verses 1 through 10. Let's read the first 10 verses. As I said, John chapter three, there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. So this man's religious, obviously he's a Pharisee. He's a ruler of the Jews. He's got something to do with the synagogue and all those things that go on there and the orders of the law. the covenants, et cetera, et cetera.

The same came to Jesus by night. And he 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. Now look at what Christ says. He just almost completely ignores this, his flattering statement.

Verse three, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, truly, truly, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. What does that got to do with what he asked? Nicodemus said unto Christ, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? And Jesus answered again, verily, verily, truly, truly, I say unto you, except a man, be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

So it's essential. These questions you're asking me, you're moving on to step five and you need to come back to step one. Verse six, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee a third time, you must be born again. Or that it could be born from above. Now he uses this illustration, the wind blows where it wills or where it lists. And you hear the sound thereof but you cannot tell from whence it comes and whither it goes. So is everyone that is born of the spirit.

And Nicodemus answered Christ and said unto him, how can these things be? And Jesus answered him and said, are you a master of Israel? The law, the commandments, the ordinances, the Levitical priesthood, all the, are you a master? and knowest not these things."

Now, our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, what I see here, first off, is He's trying to teach, and in effect, listen very closely, I think this is so important, He's trying to, in effect, unteach all the things that Nicodemus, though he was learned, or he was learned in letters, He's trying to unteach all the things Nicodemus had learned of men and man's thoughts on salvation. He's trying to teach the truth and also in effect when you teach the truth, error is made known. In many cases, and I say this from my own experience, in many cases, This is also true of us here this morning. If we were not raised under the gospel, we need to unlearn what men of religious persuasions have incorrectly taught us from our youth.

Where do I see this in a scripture? Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel, a doctor of the law. And Paul says, I count those things done. Now God used those things, the teaching of his knowledge of the Old Testament, but he saw that was the way to salvation. So he said, no, I count it loss for the excellency of Christ. And why would Christ mention he must be born again three times? The Nicodemus thought he was saved.

You say, well, my past experience. No, if your past experience does not jive with this book, trash it. So what I'm saying is, test this message this morning. Test this preacher by the word of truth and no other. Not my opinion, not the Baptist opinion, not the Presbyterian.

What does the Bible say? What does the Bible say? Let's look particularly in verses seven through ten. Seven through ten. So Nicodemus is pressing our Lord and saying, you know, you can do this, you know, we know you're a teacher from God, etc. He just goes right past that and gets to the issue. You must be born again. Christ then compares being born again of which each one of us must be in order for us to see this as the kingdom of God. He compares this to a tangible lesson, to the wind. Everybody knows every boy, girl, man, woman, when you walk out that door, You know what I'm saying, talking about when, and he uses this illustration to show how God saves sinners. How God saves sinners.

And the short lesson, which wouldn't get to the conclusion of the whole thing, is this. Salvation is completely and totally by the free and sovereign or supreme grace of God and not of any of our supposed good works. Stay there if you want to, or you can turn to 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy 1, verses 8, 9, and 10. 2 Timothy 1, starting in verse 8, Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, says Paul to Timothy, his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who, according to the power of God, has saved us and called us with the holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Through the gospel. This so great a salvation, as Paul calls it in another place, must of necessity include the proclamation of his gospel.

If you don't hear it, you're not, it's like one man said, how do you return from somewhere you've never been? It's impossible. Well, in another place, and you can stay there, and I believe it's Ephesians, Ephesians, you don't need to turn to chapter one, verse 11 and 12, of whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ, in whom, Christ, you trusted after, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. It just seems to be very plain to me. Now, we get back to our text.

Christ then compares being born again, or regeneration, new life, to the wind. He compares the wind to the spirit. Now this is very interesting. This word wind in verse eight, the wind blows, and everyone that is born in the spirit, that word wind and that word spirit is exactly the same word. Exactly, in the Greek, exactly. And David Pleasure and I were talking in the Old Testament, Ezekiel, where he talks about the wind blows and breathe, it's the same, it's just the same word, which I didn't realize the Hebrew and the Greek would be, but they're the same, they're the same words. So this is, he's saying, Christ is using this illustration to this religious man on purpose.

Let us look at this free agency, the wind or the spirit. The first thing that we notice here is the wind. You just have to know your own senses. The wind is invisible. The wind is invisible. A person cannot see the wind, but certainly feels its effect. You walk out, you don't know where it's coming, but you can feel its effect. So, too, we cannot see or totally comprehend the Spirit of God, but once it takes hold and gives a new heart, we can know His power and the results are evident.

That's why when people say, well, I believe the truth and there's no difference in their life, I don't believe them. And you don't have to prove yourself to me, but there's going to be a change. There's going to be new love. There's going to be new principles.

You don't like the things you, you know, and there's some things you may still like, but as far as the honor and glory of God, I used to believe this way. I don't believe that way anymore. Why? Because the wind blew. I heard the gospel. I believed and trusted in him. You and I are absolutely powerless to control the wind. We cannot claim credit for it. It operates independent of human wisdom, our human skill.

So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. It's like the wind. It blows. And even gospel preachers. So we like to say, okay, we'd like to get our ducks in a row. And the Lord just may knock them all out. Salvation is truly all of grace. We can't control it, nor do we don't want to. It's mysterious and it's a law unto itself, this wind, this spirit. So are all characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, another thought about this wind, it's sovereign in its actions. It cannot be regulated.

Oh, I know you can do, put a, you know, you can do the, it's called the Venturi effect. You can, you know, get a tube and then direct the wind and everything. But what about before that? You can't do anything. You look up at these weather vanes and they just turn. You can't control that. It's sovereign. It is beyond our governing.

Basically, the Spirit blows where it pleases, when it pleases, where it pleases, and as it pleases. That's the Spirit of the grace of God. All under the dictates and good pleasure of God the Father and God the Son. Exodus 33 Exodus 33 in verse 19 God is speaking with Moses, and God said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. That's the Spirit of God like the wind. It's sovereign. It's not governed. It's not governed.

And in another passage in John chapter 5, John chapter five over a page or two, John five and verse 21. For as the father raises up the dead and quickens them, even so the son quickeneth whom he will. Even so the son quickeneth whom he will. The wind of the spirit work arbitrarily and as it's the only true free agent. Talk about free agency and free will and this and that. No. The soul in whom God works, this God of the spirit, cannot tell where it comes, but the effects and the new creation is most certainly known and experienced. Thirdly, the wind is irresistible. Turn to Ezekiel 36. The wind is irresistible. You know, years ago when I would talk, speaking of salvation to somebody, they'd always say, well, I can reject him if I want. Why would you even want to do that? Why would you want to reject Christ? Always the negative. Always the negative. Ezekiel. Ezekiel 36, the wind is irresistible.

That means it blows in power, sweeping away our prejudices, subdues our wills and conquers us and enables us to bow before Christ, confessing sins and loving Christ's righteousness. Let's look at Ezekiel 36 verses one through 10. And also son of men prophesy. under the mountains of Israel, and say, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God, because the enemy, I may have had the wrong, no, verse 30, I'm sorry, chapter 37, I was going to correct that, but I didn't. Ezekiel 37, correct it right now. Ezekiel 37, the hand of the Lord was upon me and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord and sent me down in the midst of a valley, which was full of bones and caused me to pass by them roundabout. Behold, there were very many in an open valley and they were very dry. They're dead. It's like us born in debt, uh, uh, born in trespasses and sins.

And he said unto me, son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, Oh Lord God, you know, Again, he said unto me, prophesy, or preach to these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Not an impossibility. Why would we do such a thing? Because God commands it, and we do so.

Again he said unto me, prophesy upon these bones, say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones, behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you. And you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

So I prophesied, I preached. as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a shaking, the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews of the flesh came on them, and the skin covered them above, and there was no breath in them."

Why? Because the wind hadn't blown yet. We preach. We preach. Oh, I preach every Sunday, hoping there's a stirring, there's a rattling. And I pray that the Spirit bless it. And behold, verse 9, then he said unto me, prophesy to the wind. There you go. Prophesy, son of man, and say unto the wind, thus saith the Lord God. Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I preached as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet an exceeding great army. There's the Spirit. There's the wind.

Indeed, mysterious as it is. And people who don't understand this, they say, this is foolish. Well, it's foolishness of preaching that saves them that believe. Well, turn with me to Acts 19. What happens when the bones and the sinews and life begins and the breath of God covers a people Acts chapter 19. I think this says it all. It's so beautiful. Acts chapter 19. And let's start reading in verse 13.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them the call over them which had evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. I think that's funny. And there were seven sons and one Sikva, a Jew, chief of the priests, which did so. Well, he's another religious man. And the evil spirits answered and said, Jesus, I know. Paul, I know.

But who are you? That's what they're going to hear, I believe. That's what they're going to hear on that great day of judgment. Who are you? Well, we prophesied in your name. We preached in your name. We were the leader of the deacon movement. We had papers. We had this. Doesn't matter. Who are you?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leapt on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus. And fear fell on them all.

And the name of Jesus was magnified. See, now there's salvation coming. And many, this is the verse I want us to look at, and many that believed, you gotta believe. You have to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not another Jesus, but the Christ. Many that believed came and confessed, there's repentance. There's repentance. and showed their deeds. What is that? Well, if you want to read what that is, look at the book of Acts. Faith without works is dead. So you have all these things that take place when the spirit moves on sinners.

And many of them, which also had curious arts that's not finished yet, brought their books together and burned them before all men. And they counted the price of them and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. Look that up. That's roughly a million dollars. in our currency.

So believing on Christ will cost you something. It may cost you friendships. It may cost you friends with your neighbors. It may cost you family. And I'm not boasting on this, I pray that the Lord would save your family, would save your neighbors. But it's gonna cost.

They voluntarily, willingly, because of the wind and the spirit, brought their books, and counted the price of them, and they were 50,000 people. Oh, and incidentally, so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. I'd love to see that here in this town. Talk about adding on.

Our children, our friends, our neighbors, acquaintances, it may cost you something, and it will. All those who are godly in Christ Jesus, Philippians 129, shall suffer persecution, shall suffer for his name. So the will is irresistible. Once it comes, you don't know where it comes.

The Lord may bring up a message that you heard two weeks ago, a month ago, bam. The fear of God, we saw Jesus magnified in life. Belief on the Son, which is faith. They confessed, they agreed with God. Two can walk together once they're agreed, but if they're not agreed, they're not going to walk together. And they showed their deeds, and that word deeds simply means acts or actions.

We don't believe An unfelt Christ. I like George Whitefield. I dare not preach an unfelt Christ. Anybody can just stand up here and spew words and follow an outline and follow notes. And as I said in verse 19, roughly a million dollars in today's market that believe in the gospel will cost. Back to our text. In John, verse 10, closing, Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, are you a master of Israel? And that was a religious master.

And you do not know these things? My question is for you and for me, how long have we been in religion and do not know God saves sinners all by himself? He does not consult us. but by his rich, free grace, through the accomplishments of Christ, the son of God, and the enablings of the Holy Spirit, he calls his people out from false religion, from our own made-up religion, if we don't have a religion, we make it up, because God made man to worship. and we'll worship something. Once we fell in the garden, we'll worship something. Usually it's not the true God.

We must be taught, re-taught, however, re-educated, you know, whatever you want to say. I was reading something months and months ago about the re-education camps, they called them, with the Japanese prisoners, World War II, and the Nazi prisoners. And we kept sending them flyers over in Europe and everything, and they read them, but they didn't believe them.

They had these prejudices. They did not believe them. And once they got on those trains on the East Coast, and they went all the way across the country, and they saw these factories everywhere, and these cars, and they said, well, people got cars? The commoners got cars?

The high-ups in Germany and the high-ups in the Japanese Army, Navy, they all said, we didn't realize they were that powerful, that strong, and that kind, and that broke them. That broke them. Not all the pamphlets, all the reading, but when they saw how they were treated, they ate like their, the Japanese specifically said, we ate food that only was reserved for the commanders and chiefs. So compassion, and love, and preach the truth. Preach the truth, and the Holy Spirit, according to Him, I pray He blows this way. So I tell everyone, come unto Christ for mercy and grace, because He has it all. All to Him we owe. Nathan, would you close this please?