John 3:9-10 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”
Nicodemus was puzzled and confused at Jesus’ talk about the new birth by the Holy Spirit. “How can these things be?” In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul wrote, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” Spiritual life cannot be understood by the natural man.
Having biblical knowledge also isn’t the same as having a spiritual life in Christ. Nick was considered to be the teacher of Israel, not just a teacher in Israel. Certainly, he was knowledgeable of the Old Testament history and theology. Nevertheless, he could not understand how new birth by the Spirit was possible. Why are spiritual things difficult to understand for those who don’t have spiritual life in Christ?
Jesus had just told Nicodemus why the natural man cannot understand the things of God when He said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The apostle Paul further explained why the flesh cannot grasp spiritual life in Romans 8:5-8.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
I was not given spiritual life until I was 29. I grew up attending church, learning about the Bible, having been a youth director, and was a teacher. When I look back at those years, the Spirit of God was with me, making me hungry for spiritual life. Like Nicodemus, I was drawn to people who had spiritual life because I wanted what they had. I wanted to know what I could do to get it. And therein lies the hostility of the flesh. Isn’t there something I can do to get life? And the answer is, “No.” New life in Christ comes like the wind. One can’t control it. One can’t make it happen. It is a gift from above.
The encouragement we gain from this truth is that if one is hungry for it, like Nicodemus was, the wind is already blowing, and the hunger is the sound of it. The Father is blowing the hungry soul to Jesus like He did Nicodemus. Living to love with Christ is a result of being wind-blown by the Spirit. Love is the sign or fruit of the Spirit. Do you understand how this can be? If so, rejoice and love on. If not, don’t be discouraged. You are standing in the wind, and in time, you will understand because you will experience the glorious, powerful work of the living Son of God as His Spirit moves in your heart and soul.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
