 Okay, so the recording has started and can get into today's class and it was Kiran's birthday on Saturday. No, Kiran Yes, yes, okay. How was it? How was the day? Well, at first everyone is forgot. I Little upset then later. Oh, is it? Oh, you are so sorry Even my grandmother forgot Okay, okay In evening and after in evening and night I too much blessed and everyone even I did not expect like a problem you all men But my one it it was nice I blessed Okay, okay, that's great. Kiran wonderful. Yeah, and belated wishes What they wish is to you once again and pray that God will continue to lead you into greater things in this new year of your life Yeah, sure, so let's Pray together. I would like to request someone to pray and also please do pray for Kiran As you do the opening prayer anyone Yeah, but Thomas Thomas. Are you comfortable? Okay, I'll bring yeah We thank you we praise you for this wonderful day a lot the day beginning father. We thank you praise your father It's good to hear your word a lot as we sit and study your word and scriptures father Let the scriptures will come to real to us father. I Speak the spontaneous revelation as ma'am speaking father. Let me receive the spontaneous revelation father. Thank you We praise you help us to understand that the spirit of wisdom rest upon each and every one of us Thank you, praise you. We give you glory and call us in Jesus Okay, all right. Thank you. Thank you Thomas and Kiran we bless you in Jesus name Okay, we'll continue with our class for today. We are going through the book of John And we'll see what insights we can gain from it We took quite a bit of time in John chapter one because there were so many Insights about the Godhead and especially about Jesus for us to learn and understand So it took some time, but as we progress hopefully we will be faster because we also need to Complete our potions in time So mostly I will just touch upon The incidents and the truth that those incidents bring out so we can apply it in our own lives And as in when you have any questions or you want to add to what I am sharing You just feel free. No, don't even wait. You can always just post a Post it on the chat or unmute yourself and talk. Okay. So yes, great. It's wonderful I mean in the book of John is one of those early books know that all of us Read or we are instructed to read when we accept Christ and Because it's simple and at the same time it introduces God so clearly to us It forms a nice foundation on which we can build All the other things that we learn from God's work. So in the last class We had started John chapter 2 and in John chapter 2 we saw that Jesus Manifest his glory. How did he manifest his glory? He performed a miracle in the wedding of Kena. So some insights that we learned from there The fact that you know God was concerned about the needs of people what people are going through in their everyday situation We also saw how God's power Met the needs of the people and it was also not really the time when Probably Jesus was supposed to start doing his mighty works But he still responds to the request of Mary He still responds to the need that he sees around him and he You know basically responds to faith. So That shows us when we carry faith It was not really God's timing in in a sense because Jesus says like hey my time has not yet come Why are you telling me all these things about not having wine in the wedding? So it kind of shows us that he had planned to start Releasing his power sometime later, but faith right faith causes God to move Okay So faith is very important very very important and that is something we see in what happened and also as you look at the incident He instructs people to fill those water pots with water You see God wanted the people to take some steps now In our lives in some situations We want God to move on our behalf and we are waiting on him and we say God you do it you do it you do it But God could give us some instructions and he may want us to move along The lines of the instruction so we have to be careful about Stepping into that and doing what he's telling us to do. Thankfully the servants over here They filled the water pots with water and also one more thing which Jesus told them as he said in verse 8 He said draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast again an act of faith now what if The water had not turned into wine. So whoever the servant was they had faith in Jesus, okay Otherwise what what were the options the servant would have wanted to take little bit taste it and check Huh, has it become wine if it has become wine? I will give it to the master, but the servant exercised faith and said, okay God like you are telling me to do this. I trust that you have Turn water into wine Isn't it so amazing amazing that the Servant took it and he actually gave it to the master now Also, we might because we don't have too much of text explaining this as some people might say that, you know Maybe the servant was ignorant completely ignorant to what happened to the Water and he just followed instructions also, but yeah Now if the servant was aware then obviously it's faith on the part of the servant to take a step And you see this everywhere Jesus does this everywhere. He tells the people okay now now you you Take up your bed and walk Do this do that so an act of faith and as we step into the act of faith The healing comes the miracle happens the breakthrough comes so taking steps of faith is also something we learn from this passage And now we learn that God is a God of Restoration Okay, and God is a God of miracles because why I Shared in the last class that it takes several years to mature and the best wine is aged And everyone knows this but God miraculously Turned the situation around he water is another Element or What do you call that? Another compound. Okay. I forgot in chemistry. Sorry about that, but it's another like it has different Components to it and then wine has different components to it. So that's how we call it a miracle. How can water become wine? In a few moments only God can do it. It's a miracle He released a miracle and he's a God of restoration because the people the couple and the Master of the feast Where in a difficult time if Wine was not served to the guests. They would have gotten a bad name, but you praise God that they're Challenging situation their circumstance Their shame you could say right because people will talk about it and they'll say oh that wedding They never gave us good wine. It was all over the guests would have spoken ill of the hosts But God restored God covered their shame No, God really expressed his care towards those who were in need at that time So we understand the nature of God We understand who he is and how he comes through for people. He restores the He restores right people's lives and Another thing that we understand about you know God's miracles and God's restorative work is that It's not second best because when you read the law at the Ending verse verse 10 you notice that the guests are saying that Everyone serves good wine in the beginning and they give out the bad wine towards the end, but they praise The hosts and say you have kept the good wine until now so the miracle The work of God supernatural work of God How how is it in comparison to the natural? It is better Okay, people are praising and saying how is it possible till the end you have good wine So that is the work of God in our lives. That is the miracle of God You know how in God's restoration, we always read the latter Shall be greater than the former the glory of the latter temple shall be greater than the former Temple so when God does a work of restoration in our lives We can be confident that he's going to do something better. He's going to do something greater He's going to do something Wonderful, so we learn all these things about God and we learn all these things about the Work of God through the miracle in Kenya. So here You know Jesus it says Manifested his glory and you know, we talked about that the glory of God the glory of the son of God How did it get manifested? It got manifested through a miracle So today when miracles happen, we say right that we want to see the glory of God We want to see the manifestation of God story. So do miracles manifest the glory of God? Yes Should we pray for miracles to happen? Yes So Jesus manifested his glory through the It says signs it signs and miracles supernatural works that he did and What else happened when the miracle took place? We see that the disciples believed in him So here's the thing that when the supernatural is demonstrated the genuine supernatural which glorifies God One is that you know God's glory is manifested second is it brings faith So people put their faith in God much more. So we must pray and ask God for more of the Manifestation of God's glory or more of science wonders miracles healings deliverance is it's a good thing And it causes the faith of people to rise because we understand What God can do? Okay, what this world cannot do, but what God can we can see that? Okay, then He went from there after this miracle and he continues on his work and continues on with his Life so the next incident we need is Passover now Passover is again one of the festival of the Jews when several Jews From around Jerusalem would also come to Jerusalem So, you know, they would come to the temple for worship They would come to the temple for celebration similar to Pentecostal So you had people coming in for the Passover also. So it's a busy time. It's a it's a crowded time in Jerusalem. So Jesus also goes Because what does it say about Jesus when he goes to Jerusalem? He's the son of God and We might think that he would not uphold the law but in his lifetime You see him keeping you know all those those Customs of worship Because he wanted to honor God and he wanted to worship God. So he went up to Jerusalem And when he went to the temple Something was going on there which he did not like. What is that? I told you it's a busy time. It's crowded So people had come in and along with them visiting the temple. They were also engaging in business No, giving taking buying things oxen she does now it could have been for for reasons of Worship it would have been for reasons of business, right? And also money changers Money changers why because people have come from other places. So they might have wanted to You know get the currency of Jerusalem So all this is going on but Jesus noticed that it was irreverent Or it was dishonoring God and and not suitable for worship so What what happened to Jesus? He got very angry Okay, now the anger of Jesus, you know, you notice it in a few places when he rebukes The religious people the religious mindset you brood up white purse you whitewashed Toons no comments like that. He does Use right to to Let the people know that their hearts are not right with God and even in this situation You find Jesus getting really angry because God's house is being dishonored. So what was the reaction? To the business that is going on in the temple It says he made a whip of cards So, you know made a bit of cards it is said that you know, you have to braid it To make a bit. Okay. So and it takes time. So what Jesus? Did Jesus lose his temper like he couldn't control his anger. Was that the Commission, you know some People say that it wasn't like that. It was not a reaction But it was a response meaning he knew what he was doing. He did not just, you know Like lose the lid. It wasn't like that. But when he saw it there was a deep sense of anger and he wanted to respond to the To the dishonor that was taking place in the temple dishonor to whom dishonor to God because Temple is a place for worship. Temple is not a place for business so He went and he made the whip of cards and then with that whip of cards we read that he drove these these are you know these people out of the temple with their sheep and oxen and for The changers money and it says overturn the table. So he really used his anger To show the people that you cannot do this in God's house. So what does this teach us? It teaches us That the temple, you know when you when we study about God's house being the temple it's a place where God is worshipped God is exalted God fills the temple and we are there to honor him We are there to exalt him. We are there to walk in surrender before the Lord in worship That's how we come there, you know with Thanksgiving and praise enter his gates with the Thanksgiving His courts with praise. So that's the attitude of our hearts That is required to enter the temple but here Jesus understood what kind of an attitude these people carry and that attitude was not that of worship So what does he do? You know, he just chases them out He displaces anger and this is what Jesus says. He says Don't make my father's house a house of merchandise Zeal for your house has eaten me up Okay, so two things one is the temple is the father's house It's a house. Remember that Implies so many other things God stays there We go there because no we are the family of God We choose to honor God because he in the house, he's the householder. He's the head of the house, right? Jesus is the Conn is told All these things We can understand when you say that the temple is the house of father's house the second thing is Jesus had passion for the house of God zeal is what zeal is passion passion, you know Desire he was completely his heart was for the Father's house for the house of God for the temple, you know for the today we Know that the church is the Representative right on the earth of the kingdom of God. So we too must be cellist for the When I say church, you know, I'm not just referring to the local church But we know the spiritual dimension of the church, you know the kingdom of God the global body of Christ We must be zealous and if there is anything that takes place, you know Which will bring down the honor of God like Jesus we can I mean we should we should get that godly anger and see how how can we address this matter? You know, of course from it or in an honorable way, but you notice that Jesus was very zealous and how zealous was he? He's saying that zeal for your house has eaten me up or I'm consumed I'm so passionate about the house of God Okay, and this statement it's actually from the Old Testament from Psalm 69 and verse 9 and He kind of repeats it over here, but we understand the attitude that Jesus had for the house of God. So Today They're all, you know, we Bible college. We want to do ministry. We want to serve God When we serve God Let us do it passionately. Let it not be Okay history Jesus's attitude was not like that. It's a zeal for your house has eaten me up meaning Totally into it Okay, so that is The right way of serving God and having a heart for the church I'm having the heart for the kingdom of God. No nothing less than that even when Jesus talks about the first commandment. He says not the Lord you've got all your heart with all your You know mind all your strength. So everything that we have is supposed to be given to God So that's the manner in which we have to love God. We also have to love his house Okay, then moving forward. So that is the other incident that we see and we learn from that incident now the next Thing that happens is the Jews come to Jesus and they ask him The question what sign do you show to us since you do these things? Okay, what signs do you show to us since you do these things? So that the question is that Jesus is moving with authority in the temple. Okay? He got angry. He drove out the money changers. So the Jews are wondering who is this person who? Who is kind of you know like he's taking authority? in the temple and He is deciding what should happen what should not happen in the temple So seems like a man of authority or influence and that is why they go to him And they ask what sign do you show to us? to prove your authority to explain your authority and The Jews were people who always wanted a sign No, we read that right in the in the what I've got the Greeks wanted What wisdom is it the Greeks want wisdom, but the Jews are looking for signs. So they were people who? Ask God for supernatural things to take place or some kind of a sign to take place So Jesus tells them about something that is going to happen. He says destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up and the Jews They are amazed like what is this man talking? It has taken 46 years to build this temple okay to erect it and then you know just Incrementally keep adding to the construction of the temple and that is a glorious temple. So when Jesus said destroy it Something that has taken 46 years to build You know if you have destroyed in only three days I'm going to raise it back now They did not understand, you know how the Bible says in the book of Corinthians Excuse me one. I think I need water. I just quickly drink some water. Sorry. Yeah, thank you Yeah, so he says Mmm Yeah, the the in court in the book of Corinthians. No, we we study how uh, only the spiritual The spiritual things can be understood by the You know somebody who's alive in the spirit So the natural mind cannot receive the things of the spirit So here when Jesus says You destroy the temple the people But thinking in their natural mind They did not understand. They thought it's not practical. Okay. What this man is talking But spiritually, you know spiritual things are discerned spiritually What is the spiritual truth that Jesus is trying to put forth to the people? He's talking about his own body Okay, so the people are not able to understand that He said the temple destroy this temple, you know later again, you you know, uh, Paul when Paul understood it Right only by the holy spirit. We can get revelation. We can't get it You know just by doing only mind level research. We can't get it Holy spirit will teach us deep the truth revelation, but of course it will be confined to the Uh, written word of God. Okay, like it will not or in other words when I say confined I just mean that it will not Contribute the written word of God So by the spirit we can understand so Paul later on also said this right that the body is the temple of the holy spirit So destroy this temple is destroy his body because Jesus already knew the purpose For which God had sent him which was to die for the redemption of mankind. So basically he was talking about his resurrection That on the third day He would rise again. Uh, and at that point the disciples also Did not understand uh, is what we we can Observe from from this passage because John writes his disciples remembered that He had said this to them and they believe the scripture and the word which Jesus had said so only when Jesus had died and risen The disciples also understand what Jesus was saying. So Here you have Jesus talking Uh In a spiritual way, okay, and the natural mind could not understand it So you you see Jesus is functioning from uh a spiritual place Where zeal for your house has has consumed me and then the next thing is you Destroy this temple. I will raise it up in three days. So he's coming from uh, you know the kingdom truth the kingdom uh reality revelation place and You know We will get used to this. This is how Jesus is talking. Okay. Let's move on now Okay, I will quickly come to the comments here And I can see a comment which prince has shared. Uh, he says The uh nowadays, uh, it's also happening that the church is becoming a marketplace Uh, yeah, I I I know where you're coming from prince. I know that uh, Sometimes unfortunately when we don't understand What the house of god is supposed to be? Uh, we can Get into this Okay, but it's very Sad and We have seen that it makes god angry. Jesus got angry Right when people came to the temple or the place of worship but for their own benefit business Give and take Okay, so yeah, it's it's sad, but that should not happen Yeah, any other thoughts or comments on this before I proceed Yeah, yes Yes Kiran Yeah, ma'am some some sometime a spiritual eyes is Seeing something different, but the natural mind is not recognized. I know. Yeah Yeah Yeah, true true kiran. Yeah So we have to go by the holy spirit Yeah, and also as you said, you know, um receive things from the spiritual mind Yeah So for a believer also, there are uh, I'll quickly touch on that. Okay in in the conquest of the mind We have studied about the carnal mind. So one can be a believer and be Because every believer has a spiritual mind But when we don't use that spiritual mind when we are not walking in righteousness We're not renewing our minds. What happens, you know, uh fleshly Motivation is is part of our thinking and that is called as a carnal mind So that's also very unfortunate a believer who's supposed to have a Pure spiritual mind is actually walking with a carnal mind Even that carnal mind cannot receive the things of God. Okay. So that's a little bit for us about Uh The right kind of response to the house of God now moving on Uh, we find that um Um When Jesus was in Jerusalem, uh, and you know, he was functioning with authority. Uh, he was Standing up for the right things Many believed in his name. Okay, uh, and also it says when they saw the signs So far we have only observed the, uh, Watering to wine miracle. No, uh, but seems like There were additional things that took place But what did the miracles do? Again, people believe so that's why we are saying today We must also desire more of God's supernatural power and when we grow right in our in our Demonstration of the kingdom of God and all what happens No, a lot of favor comes on our lives people start appreciating us Then what should be our response? You see Jesus He was so Uh, in tune with the heart of the father that he did not let these things Affect him too much. So it says so Jesus did not commit himself to them when people are praising us We want to completely lean on that because it feels good. No people say, oh, so nicely you're preaching You are so anointed your ministry is so great. So many miracles are taking place. Oh god is blessing you Sounds so nice. Sometimes we just want to depend on it. We just want to lean on it because it feels good But Jesus was not like that when people started believing him Yet he did not commit himself to them Okay, because he knew all men at the end of the day. He realized that you know what What god says about me is more important Not just what man says and it says that you know, uh, he knew all men He knew the condition of their hearts So same thing, uh, you know, it is said that if you um, what? Okay, anyway, there's a there's a say but I don't know exactly, you know, the right Statement, okay, but it's something like if you live by oh, yeah, if you live by the phrases of men, uh, you will die by their insults or something like that because Uh, the words of people Are raising up our spirit We have given the words of people that much authority So if that is the case tomorrow if people to come and tell you or what brother you didn't today's message Was not at all anointed, you know, if we are depending on people's words that way heart will be broken What will I do now people don't like me anymore or for some reason There are lesser people in the church this week and you look at the numbers and you think what happened Why people are not coming or to happen heart will be broken because you're depending on the people And the words of the people the appreciation of the people Now if they Stop it or they give negative comments that will break us but we should not depend feedback is good Because if people if we don't receive a feedback, then we can't improve So feedback is good you take it but uh point is we should not depend so much that you know It affects us deeply that's the point. So Jesus was like that he was like, oh, okay, okay. Yeah, I was appreciating good Well, I'm good. That's it. I think more to that so, uh, Not depending too much on the, uh, thoughts of men Okay, and we'll go on to the next chapter here This is chapter three and here we observe, uh Pharisee a Pharisee is a religious person So a religious person his name is nicodemus and it says he's a ruler of the juice So he's not an ordinary man. He is an influencer He comes to Jesus by night Okay, so why did he come by night? see already You can notice that Jesus is gaining popularity and people are putting their trust in Jesus So nicodemus would have heard Huh, there's a man. He's doing miracles. He has great authority uh, you know all that he's he has heard all this and He has developed respect for this Jesus, but at the same time knowing the Jews He knew that there are people who don't support Jesus also So for him, it's like he wants to come close to Jesus But at the same time he wants to preserve his reputation So in the night, he goes to Jesus. He doesn't want anybody to know that he went so quietly That's the implication he goes to Jesus And he said, uh, Rabbi, well, we know that you are a teacher come from God For no one can do these things No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. So he's affirming and he's saying I'm clear That you are not ordinary definitely God is the one who has sent you and God is the one who is anointing you Then Jesus said to him Most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. So his conversation Okay, very interesting Nicodemus is saying something else Jesus is saying something else Okay You're like, what is this? What was Jesus thinking? You see Nicodemus came Maybe he wanted to clarify his theological questions Because he's a Pharisee himself and he's influential. He's a ruler So He would have had some doubts Okay But Jesus goes to the core of his doubt And he realizes, you know what Nicodemus? Whatever question you ask me The answer that you need is that I'm the Messiah Okay, so Jesus goes straight to that point Before addressing you know different other things that nicodemus may have brought up Jesus said, hello nicodemus. I know your need You need to know the savior. Okay. Come on. Let me tell you the final answer Unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God period Okay, so it also shows us you see when people ask questions Jesus is Moving with that spirit of discernment He's understanding the need of the person not just the question much deeper than the question What is there in his heart? Why he's asking this question? Ah, okay. He he And I mean he didn't even ask a question actually. He just said oh Jesus, you know, we know you are great all that but The discerning spirit Right by the Holy Spirit. He knows okay This man needs a savior. Let me go straight to the point and he says, you know You unless you're born again nicodemus. You cannot see the kingdom of God so born again That means to be born from above Okay So Jesus was referring to the new birth that somebody who believes in God can perceive and he introduces nicodemus to this now nicodemus you already said he He must have been intellectual. Otherwise, why would he come to Jesus? Unless he had something to clarify So the moment Jesus says He must be born again He has questions What is his born again? What is this kingdom of God? I want to know so he asks his doubt. He says Okay, you're saying born again. Everybody is born only once How can a man be born when he's old? Legitimate question right very practical Because he's applying it to himself. Okay now. I'm already grown and Jesus is saying if I need to enter the kingdom of God I need to be born again How to do this? Is it like can can somebody enter his mother's womb and be born again for the second time? So, you know, sometimes our thinking is very limited again if we go back to what we said in the earlier chapter, it's a spiritual You know mind which can receive spiritual things How is Nicodemus trying to process natural mind natural mind is limited. I will destroy this temple. How can you destroy the temple? You should be born again How can a man who's old be born again? So you see spiritual truth Has to be received with the spiritual mind. We then we will understand. So anyway, thank God Jesus did not say, okay You're so dumb nothing like that. But Jesus says, okay, come on. Let me explain to you I say to you unless one is born again of water and spirit He cannot enter the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Do not marvel that I said this to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it But cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who's born of the spirit So but Jesus explains himself further, okay, and uh First don't tell him what he really means. He says look born again does not mean physical but okay, but Born of the water and the spirit. So he brings in The holy spirit here and reveals him As the one who will do this Work in us Okay, and he says water now some people The interpretation of that water is People have said it is baptism Unless somebody is baptized in water And accepts Christ you cannot enter the kingdom of God But then you know when you look at the work of the holy spirit in Like at chapter 10, we will see that As soon as as soon as the the family of Cornelius hears the good news they accept Christ Okay, and the immediate thing that happens is they are baptized in the holy spirit. So What does that tell us? Obviously they are born again without being born again How can you receive the holy spirit? The holy spirit is only for those who are born again, isn't it? So somebody who's born again They were not baptized in water yet. So What is the show like even if someone's not baptized in water What the baptism does not it's not a requirement For the new life in Christ. Yes once somebody has received Christ No, we see Jesus Jesus was baptized in water than the apostles they were You know baptizing people in water when they believe, okay, now you have believed now you come and be baptized So believing is what makes you born again not the baptism in water So does the water here mean water baptism answer is no, it does not mean water baptism now There are you know other interpretations to that water is also a symbol of the word of God So you know it is said you must be born of the word and you must be born of the spirit Water is also a symbol of the spirit again, right? So You know that's again a thought they're saying okay, it could mean The the flow of the spirit and all and there are others who say that Water means natural birth because generally when natural birth happens the Child in the womb is covered in Water right the birth waters so that breaks and then the child is born. So one interpretation is that this is one must first of all be born naturally and then a second birth or born again Is referring to the spiritual birth so without the spiritual birth one cannot enter the kingdom of God Okay, now So he's making it clear what what uh born again really means it's a spiritual thing. It's a spiritual So How does this spiritual birth happen? It happens by the spirit So Jesus is clarifying and you say don't look at it like a natural birth flesh from flesh you get only flesh But from the spirit you get spirit. So born again has to do with being born of the spirit Okay, uh, and then he again addresses The work of the spirit, you know the the spirit is referred to uh ruah or breath right In uh, I think it's the Hebrew Hebrew language ruah. So, uh He he says like the wind blows or the spirit it's like uh breath of wind The spirit works And we can't see the work of the spirit Just like the wind but we can see the effects of the wind and in the same way And the spirit is working making someone born again We will be able to see that in their life and we will not be able to see the uh activity You know or or you know, how are they getting born again by the spirit? We can't understand all the spiritual things but from the life We will be able to understand. So that that is the thing. So being born again is a work of the spirit Being born again is being born from above being born again is a work of the spirit And only by the Holy Spirit one can be born again. So that's what Jesus is sharing And is inviting uh nicotomous to accept this too. So we will see nicotomous response soon. Uh, let's go for a break I think the time is up now. We will take a break and we will come back soon. Okay. Yeah, thank you