Here’s a shortened summary of Nick’s sermon, “Born of the Spirit,” for our podcast show notes.

Life in the Spirit: Born of the Spirit – A New Nature

Good morning, everyone! It was wonderful to gather this morning, and a heartfelt thank you to Chris and the worship team for creating such a powerful atmosphere. In these uncertain times, with global anxieties often dominating headlines, it’s vital to step back, worship God, and remember His unwavering control. We’ve heard incredible stories of the Christian church’s growth even in challenging regions like Iran, witnessing a true movement of God’s Spirit. Today, our focus was on the profound meaning of being “Born of the Spirit.”

Nick shared a moving reflection from a friend in Belfast, who, amidst personal struggles, consistently reminds his wife: “You are loved, you are safe, and we will tell you no lies.” This powerful statement perfectly encapsulates God’s truth for each of us. Regardless of external turmoil or internal anxieties, we are deeply loved, eternally safe, and God’s truth is absolute. This liberating message is one we are called to share with a world that often feels fractured and lost.

This sermon launched our new series, “Life in the Spirit,” guiding us through to Christmas. Our core passage was from John’s Gospel, chapter 3, verses 1-8.

Nick recounted the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a highly respected Jewish religious leader. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, acknowledging Jesus’ divine origin and power through His miraculous signs. “Rabbi,” he declared, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” (John 3:2).

However, Jesus’ response went straight to the heart of the matter, transcending intellectual assent: “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). Nicodemus’s confusion about physical rebirth prompted Jesus’ clarification: “I assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it wants, just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going. So you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8).

The concept of being “born of the Spirit” is far more radical than mere religious affiliation or cultural identification as a Christian. Nick explained that Jesus speaks of a deep, transformative, and often rare experience. It isn’t about our outward actions, opinions, church attendance, or the songs we sing. It’s about a spiritual DNA – a fundamental, unchangeable identity imparted by God.

Using the relatable analogy of his dog, Nick illustrated that just as an animal’s inherent DNA dictates its nature, our human nature, tainted by sin, cannot simply be improved or altered through self-effort or intellectual understanding. The “born again” experience signifies a profound, spiritual rebirth – a radical shift in our very being initiated by Jesus.

Nick shared his personal testimony of this rebirth: after a period of intellectual exploration, he realised understanding wasn’t enough. He needed a direct, heart-level encounter with God, inviting Him to transform him fundamentally. This divine act, akin to John Wesley’s “heart strangely warmed,” irrevocably changed his nature. This transformative power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, enters our hearts, making us new creations. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Nicodemus, despite his high standing, needed this foundational change. His deep-rootedness, described as “trees swaying in the wind but with roots set in concrete,” prevented him from fully embracing the new life Jesus offered. Jesus addressed this core need for spiritual rebirth directly.

For our church, growth isn’t primarily about numbers or filling our building; it’s about spiritual birth. We are called to be “midwives of a move of God,” challenging ourselves: “Are we born of the Spirit?”

Jesus challenged the tradition that physical lineage defined one’s relationship with God. John 1:12 clearly states: “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn, not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” This rebirth is universally available, irrespective of background, upbringing, or nationality. It is the miraculous transformation Jesus offers, replacing a lifetime of striving with a new nature and the power to live a new life – the ultimate “deal” where we exchange our old life for everything He provides.

This shift from a religious mindset to a Spirit-renewed mind enables us to live as God’s children, no longer burdened by feelings of failure or inadequacy. We can acknowledge our weaknesses while confidently declaring that God has transformed us from the inside out.

So, the personal challenge remains: Do you know that you are born again? Do you recognise the need for an encounter with the Holy Spirit to bring about this genuine, life-altering change? If you feel powerless or without hope, God desires to lift you, granting you a new identity, nature, hope, and future.Here’s a shortened summary of Nick’s sermon, “Born of the Spirit,” for our podcast show notes.

For those already born again, Nick urged us to fully grasp how safe, secure, and grounded we are in God’s completed work. It’s about living out this transformation, shedding the need for performance or external affirmation, and simply resting in the knowledge that, as God’s children, we are eternally loved and secure.

Bible References Used in the Sermon:

• John 3:1-8 (The core passage discussed in detail)
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• John 1:12