Broken cisterns -

 MEDITATION on John chapter 4: 25-34

1. The woman said that when the Messiah comes he will tell them about all things. (V25)
2. Jesus said that he was the Messiah they were waiting for.( V26)
3. By then his disciples came and marvelled at him talking to that woman, but nobody asked him why he was talking to her. (V27)
4. She left her pot there and ran into the city telling the men to come and see Christ and that he told her everything she did. (V28,29)
5. And all the men came to see him. ( V30)
6. Meanwhile the disciples asked of Christ to eat food. (V31)
7. BUT Christ said there is a meat that they knew not and that is to do the will of God who sent him and to finish his work. ( v32-34)

LIFE APPLICATION:

1. Many times we wait for a Messiah to come and tell us what to do. But we least realise that the Messiah has already come and he is amongst us. (V25, 26)

A. Many of us know but yet we choose to forsake the living waters.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Jeremiah:2:13

B. We also can hew out cisterns that cannot hold the living waters.

We are those Earthern vessels that God fills with these living waters and if there are holes and leaks in the form of sin, we can never hold these living waters in us.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Corinthians:4:7

C. And if we choose to forsake these living waters we will be ashamed.

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
Jeremiah:17:13
So let us be cautious not only in filling our vessels but also keeping them full too.

2. Jesus confirmed to her that he is the Messiah they had waited for.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Daniel:9:26

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isaiah:53:8

Compare these two verses... Jesus was the Messiah who was cut off from the land of the living.

When she could comprehend that Christ is the Messiah she left the water pot and goes into the city to bring people to him. (V26)

This is why the word of God tells us not to harden our hearts when we hear his voice today.

While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews:3:15

LIFE APPLICATION 3:

Christ speaks about meat more precious than the physical one. Let us look forward to such a meat... ie. To do the will of God and to accomplish it in our lives.

The WORD of GOD says,

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans:14:17

So let us feed our spirit man with the Spiritual meat and drink. May the good Lord minister unto our Spirits more....

Worship God in Spirit and in truth

 MEDITATION John 4:15-24

1. The woman asked Christ for the living waters( v15)
2. Christ asked her to bring her husband (v16)
3. She said she does not have a husband. Jesus read her life and told her about her marital status. (V18)
4. The woman perceived Christ to be a prophet (v19)
5. Then she wanted to know how to and where to worship God. (V20)
6. Christ answered  that there comes a time when people will worship God in spirit and in truth. (V23)
7. God is spirit and Christ said that we must worship him in spirit and in truth. (V24)

LIFE APPLICATION:
Yesterday we meditated on the living waters. We can see various steps of how CHRIST led this woman to the living waters ie, the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Dear reader, I would recommend you to check your life deep inside who you are where you are standing  when compared to this Samaritan woman. Continue  reading to know more about how to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

1. The woman recognised her need for the living waters and asks it  from Christ.  (V15)

Many of us are thirsty for the living waters. Our soul is like a parched ground, empty inside. We go back to physical help, or temporary solutions as this woman going to the well to draw water every time, only to thirst again and for more. We try to fix it with medications. We try to fix it with drugs.  We try to fix it with food. We try to fix it with Yoga and exercise and why not, even with sleep, but in vain.  The vacuum in us is growing more and more. Basically we are looking out for the right thing in a wrong place. We are looking out for spiritual need in the physical realm. This is why we end up feeling more empty  and drained. So let us ask CHRIST the giver of the living waters today to fill us that we thirst no more, spiritually.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew:5:6

2. The first thing Christ does to anyone who wants this living waters is to deal with their sins. (V16)
Are you struggling with hidden  sins?  Bring it to the light of Christ.  Are you Holy in your thoughts regarding your spouse? If you are not married, how is your LIFE? Trust me BROTHER, Trust me sister, DO not cheat yourself that you can walk away with your sins and still enter heaven, because the word of God says,

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians:6:9
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians:6:10

If God is speaking to you today of any of these sins deal with it in God's presence.  This is the second  step to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. The next step comes the revelation about Christ.  We have meditated in my previous post, that a person who had an encounter with Christ can never be the same. The Samaritan woman perceived him to be a prophet.  (V19)

How do you perceive Christ? Have you ever tasted and seen him to be good. Is he your healer? Is he your delivered? Is he the one to give you peace? Do you walk with God? Do you want to know more of who he is?

Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, if you are in this stage, you cannot stop but worship God. (V20) you can simply not stop but worship God when you really know who he is. And this is where is the breakthrough as we start worshipping him in Spirit and in truth. (V23,24) the living waters flow through us and our Spirit man becomes more alive and flowing. All these starts with salvation (v22)

This is how the Samaritan woman received the living waters...that she went and told about Christ to everyone and brought many to CHRIST, being a powerful testimony for him.

Let us also ask of this living waters... and God will fill us with more....

GIVE ME A DRINK - Meditation john 4: 7-14

1. A woman came from Samaria to draw water from the well, to whom Jesus asked to give him a drink( v7)
2. The woman asked him how he can ask water from her as he was a Jew and she was from Samaria ( v 9)
3. Jesus answered if she knew who he was and the gift of God then she would have asked him for the living waters. (V10)
4. The woman asked Christ how he can give her water as the well is deep and he had nothing to draw with. ( v11)
5. She asked him if he was greater than Jacob as he gave drink not only to himself but also to the cattle and children. ( v12)
6. Jesus said to her that whoever drinks this water ( physical) shall thirst again. but whoever drinks of the water Christ gives shall never thirst again. (V13)
7. Because the water that CHRIST gives shall be like a well of water springing up to eternal life ( v14)

LIFE APPLICATION:
1. Jesus asked the woman " Give me to drink".
Christ is asking of something he expects to be within the Samaritan woman. What is it?
Many a times our soul is like a parched ground. Have you ever felt something missing in your life, deep down inside...??
Do you feel empty inside when you possess every kind of blessings you can name??
This is how it feels when our soul is dry like a parched ground,
 thirsting for the living waters.
Christ refers to the Holy Spirit as the living waters, drawn from the wells of salvation.  Let us look into the scriptures below,

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isaiah:44:3

Here the Holy Spirit is referred to water.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah:12:3

Here salvation refers to the wells deep inside of us.

This is what CHRIST referred to , when he asked for a drink from the Living waters.

Let us see more examples:
Christ wants his bride to not only draw water for him but also for multitudes

Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
Genesis:24:43

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
Genesis:24:19

Rebecca chosen by the servant as a bride for Isaac is a Revelation of how CHRIST chooses his bride too.
 A chosen generation filled with springs of living waters, filled with the Holy Spirit, whose waters flow outside and quinches the thirst of many.

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah:58:11

Yes, when the Spirit of God fills us and we are led by him continuously we will be like a well watered garden with springs of water which fails

LIFE APPLICATION  2:
1. Same like Nicodemus she could only see the physical side and was asking how Jews can interact with Samaritans. (V9)
2. Jesus talks to her about Salvation as the Gift of God. (V10)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans:6:23

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians:2:8
4. Christ further explains that the water that CHRIST gives, meaning the Spirit of God springs in us as a river that never dries up.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalm:46:4
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation:22:1

God puts this river into us... that we will be beaming with this living waters.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John:7:38

So today is the day! Is your soul like a parched ground? Dry and empty? Ask of christ and out of your belly shall living waters flows that you will never be thirsty again. (V10)

BESIDES THE JACOB'S WELL - MEDITATION John 4:1-6

1. Jesus left Judea and went into Galilee when Jews started telling that he made more disciples than John ( V1-3)
2. He had to go through Samaria (V4)
3. Jesus came to a city called sychar - which had an historical significance,
The ground was given by Jacob to Joseph (v5)
4. There was also Jacob's well and because Jesus was weary with his Journey, he sat ON the well and it was the sixth hour (v6)

LIFE APPLICATION:
1. How do we react to Honour and fame?
The WORD of GOD says, praise is like a furnace that refines Gold. It trieth our inward man. It brings to light the kind of Person who we are.

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
Proverbs:27:21

How do we react to praise.? How do we react when honour and fame comes our way.
A. Do we change it to praises unto God or do we rob his glory? The WORD of GOD says, he will never give his glory to anyone.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah:42:8

We are called to show forth God's praise.

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Isaiah:43:21

How do we treat people when we are moving forward?
1. Let others lift us up and not ourselves:
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Proverbs:27:2

2.  Christ moved away when he was lifted more than John the Baptist. How are we? Let us allow the Holy Spirit  search our hearts.....
(V1-3)

Significance of the Well of Jacob:
1. The house of Jacob and his generation was chosen by God to be blessed and to inherit the Kingdom of God.

Similarly we are chosen by God to be blessed.

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
Ezekiel:20:5

2. Jesus walks into the place where Jacob had given a land as inheritance to Joseph.( V5)
Similarly. We have a spiritual inheritance in Christ.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians:1:12

3. Jesus CHRIST sat on the well of Jacob.
Well signifies the fountain of living waters... which we will meditating throughout this chapter.

The WORD of The God says, the thirsty land will have springs of water.

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isaiah:35:7

4. Jesus Christ is the master of this well: whomever comes to him, shall receive this living waters.

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Isaiah:49:10

Like a shepherd Christ leads us to the still waters as from him flows the living waters

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation:22:17

If  you feel, your life is like a dry parched land...Jesus wants to flow these living waters through you.
I pray that God will take us besides the still waters, as we move on this exciting journey of meditating John 4.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm:23:2

WHERE ARE YOU HEADING TO? church- The BRIDE of CHRIST; Meditation John 3:22-36

1. Jesus came to Judea and he stayed their for a while and baptised. John the Baptist was also baptizing people for repentance in the same place. (V22,23)
2. Again, the Jews questioned John about his witness about Christ and that many people go to Christ, than to himself. ( V24-26)
 3. John confirms again his witness that nobody receives anything unless it is given to them from heaven and that he himself is not CHRIST but the one sent before him. (V27,28)
4. He speaks about Christ being the bridegroom of the bride, the church, he himself being the friend of the bridegroom. He also rejoices for hearing the voice of CHRIST. (V29)
5. He further endorse the testimony of CHRIST, as something that he speaks of what he has seen and heard as they are the words of God and God has given his Spirit without measure in him. (V31-34)
6. He wanted Christ to increase and himself to decrease. (V30)
7. If we can receive his testimony we know that God is true. (V33)
8. The Father God Loveth Christ and has given him authority over all things. (V35)
9. Hence if we believe in Jesus CHRIST we will have everlasting life, but if not we shall not see life as the wrath of God will abide on us.

Life Application 1:
WHERE ARE WE HEADING TO IN LIFE - As the BRIDE OF CHRIST ?
Every born again Christian, washed and redeemed by the blood of Christ are a part of a heavenly church - The bride of CHRIST.

Let us go through a few scriptures:

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation:21:2

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation:21:9

The great city, the new Jerusalem is going to be the bride.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Revelation:21:10

What is this new Jerusalem?
1. This is a place where the saved in Christ are going to be.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Revelation:21:24

2. This is the place where there is no need for sun or moon.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Revelation:21:23

3. There will be no abomination or filth and only if our name is there in the lamb's book of life we can be there.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation:21:27

The church is the bride of CHRIST.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephesians:5:23

Christ has bought the church by giving himself for it.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians:5:25

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians:1:18

The church is the bride of CHRIST.  Christ being the bridegroom and you and me are going to be the part of this bride church

We are knit together to be a part of the bigger body of CHRIST.
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Colossians:2:19

How does CHRIST wants his bride to be?
1. God wants his church to be blameless.

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians:5:27

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians:2:15

2. Washed by the blood of the LAMB.

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation:7:14

3. Subject to Christ:

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians:5:24

4. A Royal priesthood
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter:2:5

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter:2:9

Life Application 2:
Witness of John the Baptist:
1. John never hesitated to lift up Christ, though he is decreased. (V30)

2. He did not hesitate to acknowledge that he is not CHRIST, but only the one who came before him (v27,28)

3. He testified that CHRIST is the one who came from heaven and he knows the things of heaven than any one else. (V31-33)

4. He acknowledged that CHRIST is full of Holy Spirit without measure.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Corinthians:15:45

5. And moreover it was revealed to him that CHRIST is the bridegroom for the bride called CHURCH. (V29)

6. Christ is given all authority in heaven and earth. (V35)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew:28:18

7. If we believe in Christ we will have eternal life. But if we do not believe we are under eternal damnation.

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
John:5:29

God wants us to look up to the heavenly Church than the one on Earth today. We might see a lot of disorders in the churches of the present age. But Christ wants us to adorn ourselves each day as brides waiting for our groom. Let us also along with the Spirit say 'come'

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation:22:17

May the Spirit of God reveal you more.

Breaking strongholds of GUILT: part 2: Meditation john 3: 9- 21

Condemnation and guilt are major strongholds gripping the minds of people today...some people are pushed even to end their lives because  of GUILT.

Let me give you an  example from the Bible. Let us look into the series of events that happened in the life of Judas.

1. Judas gives place to Satan in his heart:
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
John:12:4

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
John:12:5

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
John:12:6

2. Satan enters Judas to betray Jesus:

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luke:22:3

3. Judas betrays Jesus:
And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
Luke:22:47

4. When he saw Jesus was condemned he repents and tries to help Jesus if he can release him.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Matthew:27:3

5. Judas hangs himself out of GUILT.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Matthew:27:5

Guilt is painful; guilt kills us;  It can be anything of our past, that is throwing a dark shadow of Guilt on our future.
 Today Is the day to break that stronghold from your life.

Satan tempts us to sin- sins condemns under the light of the Law- condemnation breeds guilt - guilt brings shame-
Shame brings destruction.

All of these work in darkness. Shame does not allow us to address this issue in the  light of the gospel.

We are unable to talk out the real problem and cry within ourselves, making issues worse.

Now let us see a godly example from the word, how Peter overcame guilt as compared to Judas.

1. Jesus prophesies about Peter denying him.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Matthew:26:35

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Matthew:26:34

2. Peter denies Jesus thrice.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Matthew:26:74

3. Peter cries and repented.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew:26:75

4. But when Christ rose up on the third day he was the first to run to the sepulchre.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John:20:3

5. God restores the relationship again.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John:21:17

Do you love Jesus? Come back to him as Peter did.

Christ did not come to condemn us but to save us. V17.

If we can believe this we are  no longer condemned as it is written,
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans:8:1

Praise be to God... we are no longer under the ministry of Condemnation, ie, the Law. But we are set free from its bonds.

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Corinthians:3:9

Sin and guilt have been already condemned by what CHRIST did on the cross in the flesh. Now we are free to worship him.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans:8:3

Let guilt not keep keep you away from the presence of God. Today is the day to reconcile with God and bring it to light.

1. JESUS LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
2. JESUS LOVES YOU THE WAY YOU ARE.
3. JESUS LOVES YOU HOW MUCH EVER DIRTY YOU ARE.
4. JESUS LOVES YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE UNDER DEEP ADDICTIONS.
5. JESUS LOVES YOU WHATEVER BE YOUR PAST; HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A BRAND NEW  FUTURE.
6. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING TO WIN THE LOVE OF GOD

 Simply to put,
YOU HAVE HOPE IN Jesus.
Also, you do not need to read 20 chapters of the Bible or walk a 1000 miles to win God's heart.

He loves you and he is willing to free you today.

STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR FREEDOM FROM GUILT, SHAME AND CONDEMNATION:
1. Honestly Name it: address and acknowledge your hidden emotions, feelings and problems before God. So that it is brought into light.
2. Deny the Lies the Devil puts in your heart, that you are not accepted.
3. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you can come back to Jesus and he will break these strongholds.
4. Now, pray this prayer with me,

Dear Father,
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus has carried my guilt and shame at the cross in the flesh and I have PEACE with you through JESUS CHRIST.  I give you my life and I invite you into my heart to break every strongholds ( name it if you would want to) of GUILT and shame in my life. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus mighty name.  Amen.

Please send prayer requests to: christloveinus@gmail.com and we will pray for you. God bless you all.

The blood covenant : part 1; meditation John 3:9-21

1. Nicodemus asks Christ how all these things can happen as he had not experienced them personally.  V9
2. Jesus was amazed as being a teacher of the Jews how he could not comprehend it. V10
3. Jesus said that he spoke of the things what he know and testified on what he had seen v11
4. Jesus asks if things of Earth itself we are unable to believe,  then how can we believe things of heaven. V12
5. No man has ascended up to heaven and came back, except Christ, as he is the one who came down from heaven. V13
6. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so Christ had to be lifted up V14
7. If we believe in Christ we do not perish but have eternal life. V15
8. Christ goes on to explain further that God gave his only son Jesus Christ that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  V16
9. God did not send his son to condemn us but to save us. V17
10. If we believe in Christ we are not condemned. But if we do not believe in Christ we are already condemned, because we did not believe in God's only son. ( God's plan of redemption) (V18)

1. We are condemned because the light of Christ came into the world, but men loved evil deeds more that they hated their secret sins (darkness)  being brought to the light and are dealt with ( V19,20)
12. But if we do the truth then we come to the light that it will be manifest that we are made of God.

Again because of the volume of the study I am breaking Today's portion into two parts.
1. Part 1- God's plan of redemption as portrayed in old testament.
2. Part 2- Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation

Life Application 1:
1. Jesus was amazed how Nicodemus could not comprehend the things of God because he was a master of the Jews and it is written throughout the old testament about being born again, yet his understanding was not opened up to it. (V9,10)

How was God's plan of redemption portrayed in old testament?
1. When the first man sinned God coated them skin... meaning blood was shed to cover the nakedness of sin.


Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis:3:21

In the New testament God calls us to be clothed with his righteousness.

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation:3:18


2. The blood of Abel spoke against sin, similarly the blood of CHRIST speaks on our behalf.

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis:4:10

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
Hebrews:12:24

3. Blood was offered as an atonement of sins in the old testament.
And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.
Exodus:30:10

Christ shed his own blood as redemption for our sins.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews:9:12


4. It is written that there is no remission of sins without blood.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Leviticus:17:11

Christ gave himself as an atonement for our sins.
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Hebrews:9:25

5. Boaz married Ruth a gentile as a symbol of redemption. ( again a symbol of how CHRIST has redeemed us.

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Ruth:4:5

As Boaz redeemed everything of Ruth, Jesus has redeemed us.
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans:3:24

The plan of God's redemption through CHRIST is scattered throughout the old testament... May the Spirit of God reveal more.

Life Application 2:
1. All of these Christ has seen and he has known, though Nicodemus was unable to accept the witness of Christ.  V11

2. All these things that were written and practiced in the old testament were of Earthly things given as a shadow of heavenly things. This is Why, Christ was perplexed when Nicodemus could not correlate them. (V12)

3. Christ is the one who came down from heaven and only he can explain the things of heaven to us. (V13)

Life Application 3:
1. Jesus moves on to explain that, as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so Christ has to be lifted up. (V14)

Here Jesus again explains God's plan of salvation through him.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Numbers:21:8

The fiery serpent denotes the curse of every man. Whoever beheld the serpent that was lifted up on the pole got healed.

So it will be that whoever looks up Christ who hung on the cross as curse, will be saved.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians:3:13

This is what CHRIST explains in (v15,16) that God gave his only son Jesus Christ, to be hung on the cross taking up the curse of the world, that when we look up at this cross, believing him as our saviour from sin and curse, we shall not perish or die in our sins but live a life everlasting.

1. If you are born again  but still under the bondage of curse, look up to Christ as he became a curse for you. Because, our curse has been nailed on the cross we shall not perish but have everlasting life.

2. If you are not sure if your sins are forgiven, you can look up to the cross believing that jesus died and shed his blood as a ransom for your sins and you shall be saved.

May the Spirit of God lead you into more truth from his word. God bless you.

If you want to accept Christ as your personal savior and Lord, you can repeat this prayer with me,believing with all your heart that CHRIST was made a  curse on the cross.

Dear Father,
I come Into your presence in the name of Jesus Christ.  I believe in my heart and confess now with my mouth that Jesus, you died for me on the cross for my sins and nailed every of my curse on it. Wash me and cleanse me by your blood that I shall not perish but have everlasting life, through CHRIST.  I invite you to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Thank you for answering me. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.