Now You Know I Robert Madu I Social Dallas

Summary

Social Dallas Podcast – "Now You Know" | Robert Madu

Date: June 15, 2026
Host: Social Dallas Church
Speaker: Pastor Robert Madu
Theme: What It Really Means to Be Born Again

---

Episode Overview

This episode, led by Pastor Robert Madu, delves deep into the biblical idea of being "born again" through the story of Nicodemus in John 3. Madu challenges listeners to rethink religious assumptions, highlighting the difference between external performance and internal transformation. Through humor, raw honesty, and powerful metaphors, he explores surrender, spiritual rebirth, and the often hidden, gradual nature of real heart change.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giving Glory to God in All Circumstances

• The episode begins with an energetic call to worship, emphasizing that God receives glory not only in life’s best moments but especially in our struggles and pain.
  • “He doesn't just get glory out of the good stuff…you could be going through hell and he'll still get the glory.” (01:21, Robert Madu)

2. Theme of Confident Trust

• Social Dallas sets a yearly “word;” this year it’s Trust—anchoring oneself in God regardless of circumstances.
  • The community corporately reads Hebrews 10:35–37, affirming their faith.

3. Setting up the Text: John 3 & Nicodemus

• Madu reads John 3:1–9, recounting Nicodemus’ night encounter with Jesus.
• He highlights how Nicodemus came with certainty—“we know you’re from God”—but left with deeper questions.
  • “Isn’t it funny you could come with a statement of certainty… and then leave… with curiosity and questions? I wonder if that’s what spiritual maturity looks like.” (08:30, Robert Madu)

4. The Nature of Birth – Natural & Spiritual

• Madu uses his own birthday (the following day) as a metaphor:
  • No one remembers their natural birth and contributed nothing to it.
  • This underscores that spiritual birth is also a process you receive, not achieve.
  • “There are some things in life that cannot be achieved. They must be received.” (13:27, Robert Madu)

5. Desire for Control vs. Surrender

• People crave contribution and control, but certain aspects of life—especially spiritual rebirth—are uncontrollable and cannot be earned.

6. The Unique Approach of the Gospel of John

• John organizes his Gospel theologically, not chronologically, focusing on highlighting Jesus' divinity and breaking expectations.

• God cannot be boxed in or controlled; Jesus repeatedly overturns expectations throughout John (e.g., turning water into wine, cleansing the temple).

  “We serve a God who is sovereign and cannot be controlled. You can't even get past John chapter one and you start realizing that our God cannot be controlled by anybody or anything.” (15:59, Robert Madu)

7. Encounter: Nicodemus Comes at Night

• While Nicodemus often gets criticized for seeking Jesus “at night,” Madu reframes this:
  • We all come to Jesus in our “night seasons”—when life is confusing or dark.
  • What’s most important is not when you come, but that you come.
  • “I want to shout out Nicodemus for coming to Jesus at all.” (23:49, Robert Madu)
  • “Don't make the enemy make you think that because it's dark, God is distant. He does some of his best work at night.” (25:14, Robert Madu)

8. Knowledge vs. Surrender

• Nicodemus leads with “we know,” but Jesus isn’t impressed with theology alone.
• External religious performance does not guarantee spiritual rebirth.
  • “God would rather have you come with a cry of desperation than a declaration of what you know.” (27:05, Robert Madu)

9. Jesus’ Radical Statement: You Must Be Born Again

• Madu reiterates Jesus’ declaration:
  • Even Nicodemus—the model religious leader, Bible scholar, devout faster, giver, and worshipper—is told he must start over.
  • “You need to be born again…you will not enter the kingdom.” (35:25, Robert Madu)
  • It’s not about behavior modification—it’s about internal transformation.

10. Hidden, Gradual Nature of Spiritual Change

• The new birth is likened to natural birth:
  • Conception is hidden, pregnancy is gradual, and birth is undeniable.
  • Churches should be patient—babies don’t speak ‘Christianese’ instantly.
  • The growth of faith can be gradual, not always instantaneous.
  • “How is it in the natural, we understand that conception is hidden, pregnancy is gradual and birth is undeniable. But in the church, we want somebody to go immediately from conception to speaking Christianese.” (44:08, Robert Madu)

11. Nicodemus’s Spiritual ‘Trimesters’

• Madu traces Nicodemus’ spiritual journey:

  1. First encounter (at night): He meets Jesus, but appears unchanged.
  2. Second sighting (John 7): He stands up for Jesus among the Pharisees—showing subtle transformation.
  3. Final scene (John 19): Nicodemus boldly cares for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion—now fully committed and transformed.

  “It looks like something happened that night that nobody else could see because he took the very body of Jesus and prepared the burial… Nicodemus made it to the third trimester.” (49:30, Robert Madu)

12. Appeal & Response

• Spiritual birth requires surrender, not effort.

• Pastor Madu calls for listeners to “receive, not achieve” salvation, praying for those ready to surrender.

  “This is not a gospel of try harder. This is a gospel of start over. And in the same way, you can contribute nothing to your natural birth, you cannot contribute to your spiritual birth. It was his work, his blood. Your response is to surrender.” (52:06, Robert Madu)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are some things in life that cannot be achieved. They must be received.” (13:27, Robert Madu)
• “You must be born again. This has nothing to do with your effort and everything to do with receiving.” (36:00, Robert Madu)
• “Conception is hidden, pregnancy is gradual, and birth is undeniable.” (44:08, Robert Madu)
• “This is not a gospel of try harder. This is a gospel of start over.” (52:06, Robert Madu)
• On spiritual pride:
  “God would rather have you come with a cry of desperation than a declaration of what you know.” (27:05)

---

Important Timestamps

• [00:02–04:27] – Worship & Call to Praise; focus on God’s glory in all life’s circumstances.
• [04:27–05:35] – Introduction of the annual theme (“trust”); reading from Hebrews 10.
• [05:35–08:30] – Setting up John 3; reading the story of Nicodemus; questioning certainty.
• [10:01–13:27] – Pastor Madu’s birthday used as metaphor; birth as something received, not achieved.
• [15:01–17:03] – Uncontrollability of God; Gospel of John’s unique theological perspective.
• [19:55–23:49] – Nicodemus as a Pharisee; reframing his night encounter with Jesus.
• [27:05–35:34] – Highlighting the difference between external performance and the need for rebirth.
• [38:46–44:50] – The gradual process of spiritual growth; analogy of pregnancy and birth.
• [45:15–50:26] – Nicodemus’ story unfolds in three stages: initial encounter, defense of Jesus, and open allegiance after the crucifixion.
• [52:06–End] – Invitation to receive Christ; emphasis on surrender over self-effort.

---

Conclusion

Pastor Robert Madu powerfully deconstructs the notion that religious effort earns God’s acceptance, anchoring salvation in surrender and spiritual rebirth. Through vivid storytelling, biblical exposition, and real-life analogies, he calls listeners to humbly receive—and not strive for—God’s transforming grace. The story of Nicodemus, as traced in John’s Gospel, illustrates that real spiritual change might be hidden and gradual, but will become undeniable over time. The episode ends with a heartfelt invitation to receive Christ, emphasizing that “you must be born again.”

---

For listeners seeking a deep, relatable, and challenging message about spiritual transformation, surrender, and the grace of Jesus, this episode is essential.

Transcript

[A]

Come on, let's lift up the name of Jesus in this place today.

[B]

Come on. From the bottom all the way to the top. Can we give all the glory to one name?

[A]

Come on.

[B]

The only name that can heal, the only name that can deliver. The only name that can set you free. Come on. We came for one name today at the Whisker Opera House. That name's not Robert Madu. That name's not Taylor Madu. Come on. That name is Jes.

[A]

Father, get the glory that you are worthy of. There is no God like our God. Father, thank you for your ability to. To get the glory out of every circumstance. So, Father, today we say we give you permission to get the glory. What I love about our God is he doesn't just get glory out of the good stuff. Some people think he can only get the glory when you get a new job. He can only get the glory when you get a new house. But somebody on your road can testify that you could be going through hell and he'll still get the glory. You could be going through a situation you didn't pick and he'll still get the glory. You can be going through chemo and still he'll get the glory. Because somebody will look at what you're

[B]

going through and say, how in the

[A]

world are you still standing? How in the world do you still

[B]

have your right mind?

[A]

And you tell them, it's not by my own strength, it's not by my own mind, but it's the spirit of the living God on the inside of me.

[B]

Come on. Where are the people who've been through some stuff and say, I wouldn't have been picked it for myself, but he sure did get the glory out of it. Would you take 10 seconds and give him the best praise that you got? Somebody needs to praise him for the thing that you know he's going to get the glory out of. It hadn't happened yet, but I'm trusting and believing you gonna get the glory out of this.

[A]

Jesus, be glorified in this place today. Father, we didn't come here out of religious routine. We didn't come here to check a box today. We came here to give you the glory that you're worthy of. And all the blessed people at the Winspear Opera House said, amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Come on. Would you give God the best praise that you got? Oh, I feel like God's gonna do something today. Anybody got expectation for go to move? Come on, wake up. The person next to you say, neighbor, I hope you Brought your expectation. Look at your other neighbor. Say, anything can happen today. Come on, tell them anything.

[B]

Can you imagine with all of the faith in this room what the Lord can do? Can you imagine with my Halle m. Can you imagine what God could do if you just had just a little bit of faith?

[A]

Oh, welcome to social Dallas. Are you glad to be here? Help me thank God for our social global family that's watching from around the world. Come on. While you're clapping, help me thank God for our brothers and sisters watching this on Tando. Today. We believe God can show up anywhere. He can show up at Texas Trust theater. He can show up at Granada Theater. He can show up at where we at Winspear Opera House. He can show up in your bedroom. He can show up in a prison cell. He can show up anywhere he inhabits. Not the complaints of his people, but the praises of his people. Some of y' all been complaining and wondering why he hadn't showed up. I dare you to flip that thing today. Stop complaining and start giving him the praise that he's worthy of.

[B]

Why?

[A]

Because there's still breath in your body. And the Bible says, let everything that has breath. Social. Don't push me. I'm close to the edge today. Don't do it. Don't do it. Well, you look good. I'm so glad you're in the house of the Lord. You look like you got confident trust in the Lord. If you're new to Social Dallas, every single year, we have a word that we set our focus on. And our word for this year is trust. No matter what's going on around us, we will have our trust, our confident trust, anchored in the Lord. And that word comes straight from scripture. So every single Sunday, we declare. Hebrews, chapter 10, verse 35 through 37. Come on, y' all ready to read it? With uplifted, caffeinated voices today. How about y' all at the very, very top? Y' all ready? You know, if the coming one comes today, y' all getting up there before we do so already.

[B]

So.

[A]

Remember, Then you will receive all that he has promised for in just a little while, the coming one will come and not delay. Y' all sound real good. Sound real good. Then remain standing. Our text for today is in the Gospel of John, chapter number three. John, chapter three. And I want to illuminate for our understanding verses one through nine. The Gospel of John, chapter number three. Start at verse number one and we'll cut it short at verse number nine. When you're ready to read it, say yeah. If you need a little time to find the Gospel of Jonathan, holler. I heard you over there in that section. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Beautiful. And it says, now, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. And this man came to Jesus by night and said to him, rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. And Jesus answered him, truly, Truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, um, Arah,

[B]

how

[A]

can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, truly, Truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the 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 to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus said to him, how can these things be be. Can you say, amen? I don't want to preach before I preach, so don't count this as my preaching time. But it is intriguing to me that this brilliant theologian, this Pharisee, this scholar, comes to Jesus initially with a statement, we know that you must be from God. But he leads Jesus with the question, how can these things be? Isn't it funny that you could come with a statement of certainty, even with a little arrogance, we know, and then leave completely perplexed and have curiosity and questions. I wonder if that's what spiritual maturity looks like. Not necessarily moving into certainty, I know, but actually having a childlike curiosity and coming to the grips with the fact that you might not know what you think you know. I want to use the title today. I'm gonna help you finish the title. You're gonna help me, rather finish my title for today. Comes from a musical theologian from New York. And he said, if you don't know, y' all ain't saved. I want to talk to you from this thought. Now you know, look at the person next to you before you sit down and just say, neighbor. Oh, neighbor. Now I know. Look at your other neighbor, the one you ignored. Come on, get in their face. Get in their personal space. Say, other neighbor.

[B]

Now.

[A]

I know if you believe God's going to speak Give him some praise up in here, Father. Have your way today. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Now you know. Well, the secret is out, thanks to that amazing video that the creative team put together. Tomorrow is my birthday. Tomorrow is my birthday. Now, you know, I turned 42 tomorrow. Tomorrow. And so many of you have been asking. You've been asking, hey, P.R. i wasn't able to make the video, and I want to do something, and I would never put that pressure on you. But they do have my cash app. Can we put that on this? Oh, we don't have it. No. I play.

[B]

I'm sorry. That makes me laugh.

[A]

That makes me laugh. When people are grown and post their cash app for their birthday, I'm not judging. Do you? But I just think it is the adult equivalent of having a little money pinned to your shirt saying, I was born. Y' all gonna pay me. It's my birthday tomorrow. And I think birthdays are funny. They're funny to me. Because think about it. Every single year, we celebrate something that none of us actually remember. You don't remember the day you were born? I don't remember June 15, 1984, y'.

[B]

All.

[A]

I don't remember the hospital. I don't remember who the doctor was. I don't remember them placing me on the scale at 7 pounds, 6 ounces. All this is told to me. I don't remember my first cry. I don't remember any of that. Isn't it funny that we celebrate something that we don't even remember? And yet every sermon I've ever preached, every mistake I've ever made, every friendship I've enjoyed, every prayer I've ever prayed, and every heartbreak I've endured, every blessing I've experienced traces back to a day I don't even remember. It's even more humbling for me to consider that I didn't contribute anything to my birth. I didn't do anything. In fact, I asked pastor Honey, who is my mama? Who is here today? We're in worship. And I leaned over to her. I said, hey, Mama, what did I contribute to my birth? She said, boy, what?

[B]

I said, I need to know. I'm about to go preach.

[A]

And I want to know, like, what

[B]

did I contribute to my birth? And she said, nothing. There was absolutely nothing that I contributed to my birth.

[A]

I didn't pick the day. I didn't cut myself from the umbilical cord.

[B]

I didn't do any of that, y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

I didn't even push myself out. She did all the pushing. As a matter of fact, I'm standing

[A]

here today because she went through some pain.

[B]

I'm standing here today because she went through pain, discomfort. I'm standing here today not because I carried myself, but because she carried me. I contributed nothing. And yet they put cupcakes in my

[A]

room in the back. Isn't that interesting that I contributed absolutely nothing to my birth? I was the beneficiary of a process that I neither initiated nor completed.

[B]

And if I'm honest with you today,

[A]

that is hard for me. Because your boy likes to contribute. I'm one of those people. I like to help.

[B]

I like to add value.

[A]

I want to pull my own weight. I don't like receiving something that I don't feel like. I earn just a little bit. But I'm learning. There are some things in life that cannot be achieved. They must be received. There are some things that no matter how much you sweat for, no matter how much you try to earn it, you. You cannot earn it. And we don't like that. Because, let's be honest, we all love to make a contribution, don't we? We love a contribution because it gives you a sense of significance. It gives you a sense of purpose when you contributed something. As a matter of fact, let's keep it 100. When you contribute something, it gives you a sense of control. Yeah, when I make a contribution to something, I kind of feel like I have the right to say something about it. And it gives me just a little bit of control. And I know you can't say anything because y' all the first service. Y' all super saved. Oh, but don't. We love to have some control? But has anybody gotten grown enough to know there are some things in life that you cannot control?

[B]

Come on.

[A]

You cannot control who likes you. You cannot control what other people think about you.

[B]

You cannot control.

[A]

Come on. Sometimes your kids. You cannot control other people, people's emotions.

[B]

You cannot control other people's expectations. You can't control your height. You can't control your hairline. You can't control your haters. There are some things in life that you cannot control.

[A]

Oh, and that's why I love the Gospel of John. Because John is in a category all by himself. He is different than the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John is a little bit different. He is not giving you the life and the ministry of Jesus Christ based off a chronological timeline. No, he is putting it together so you can get a theological masterpiece and be sure of the fact that Jesus was not just A good man, but he was a God man that he was God in flesh. John is writing these things and giving you signs so that you may believe. And you can't even control the way John does it. He sets up his gospel completely different than any of the other gospel writers. I love John because he shows us a savior who refuses to be controlled. God says, you cannot put me in a box. You cannot limit me to the narrow confines of your cerebral cortex. Anytime you get ready to control Jesus,

[B]

how many know he will break out

[A]

whatever box you tried to put him in? We serve a God who is sovereign

[B]

and cannot be controlled.

[A]

You can't even get past John chapter one, and you start realizing that our God can cannot be controlled by anybody or anything. You remember that day, he's at a wedding and he's just trying to turn up just a little bit and have a good time. And what does his mama do? Mary, she comes to Jesus and says, hey, Jesus, they out of wine. And he looks at her and says, woman, I would not suggest that to any kid today. Please don't try that. That's Jesus work right there. Do not look at your mama talking about woman. He looked at her and said, said, woman. What does that have to do with me?

[B]

It is not my. It is not my time. In other words, I know you're my earthly mama, but don't think that you can control me. I'm not moving by your clock. I'm moving by divine destiny and call that is on my life.

[A]

And she understood it because she turned

[B]

right around, didn't get offended, and said,

[A]

do whatever he tells you to do. You can't control this God. And in his own time, he said, hey, put some water in there. And he turned it into wine. John, chapter two.

[B]

This same Savior goes through the temple

[A]

and sees them making it difficult for people to worship God. And what does your God do?

[B]

He makes a whip and starts driving people out of the temple and says, don't you know my house is a house of prayer? Can you see your God?

[A]

Some of you think you have this

[B]

little Gumby God who's just kind and just loving and hugging everybody.

[A]

I wish you could have been in the temple that day when he's turning

[B]

over and driving people out. Why? Because he's letting you know you can't control me.

[A]

Can't control me. And then we get to our text today in John chapter three with a man by the name of Nicodemus. Before we talk about Nicodemus, you understand that in your Bible, the chapter verses and the chapter numbers came later. And I think that the amazing people who put the chapter numbers and verses up, they kind of went a little too early. They should have backed that thing up just a little bit. To the end of John chapter 2.

[B]

I want us to look at it.

[A]

John, chapter 2, verse 24. Look at says, but Jesus on his part, they were starting to believe some of the signs he was doing. And it says, but Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. He didn't entrust himself to people because he knew what was in man. And then right after he says he knew what was in man, we get the story of Nicodemus. And it says, there was a man. Yeah, y' all are smart. Class. There was a man that Jesus starts having a conversation with. Why do we need that context that he knew what was in man? Because anytime Jesus was having a conversation with somebody, how many know he could see into them. He knew exactly what was going on on the inside of them. He didn't interview them per se, but he had an interview.

[B]

Can you imagine?

[A]

Can you imagine talking to somebody that knows everything that's going on inside of you while you talking to them? This, to me, even, just shows the grace and the humility of God. Because if I'm God and I know what you're about to say before you say it, I'm not even gonna let you say nothing.

[B]

I'm gonna tell you why you're walking up. I know you're about to ask me for $20. I ain't got it. As a matter of fact, you got

[A]

the money in your account, because I can see it. But look at the humility of your God. He actually takes the time to sit and talk to people. And look at who he's talking to today. Nicodemus. He is a Pharisee. Let the church say Pharisee. Pharisee. Pharisee.

[B]

Pharisee.

[A]

That's what I call him. Pharisee.

[B]

I see everything that's wrong with you.

[A]

Nothing that's wrong with me. Fair. I see how many have been raised in church and you heard somebody preach about the Pharisees? Heard somebody preach about the Pharisees. Let me see hand. Okay, okay. How many of you who in your mind the Pharisees are the villains they are. Come on. They kind of look like Jafar off Aladdin. Some of y' all get that later. And we typecast the Pharisees as these horrible Mean people. And I think that's unfair. I think that's especially when you consider the origin of the Pharisees. Can I take my time today? It's my birthday. When you consider the origin of the Pharisees. The Pharisees originally were not created to be this group that couldn't stand people. Keep in mind this is the group that came together much after the exile and the Babylonian captivity of the children of God because their idolatry got them captive, because they refused to obey Yahweh. And once they got out of that, this group was formed and they said, hey, we don't ever want to go through that again. We want to be separate. They took serious the scriptures, they took it serious. They wanted to be holy, they wanted to be right. But over time, even though they had the right motives, they drifted. They drifted from their original intention. That should humble us today because many of us can have the right intentions when we start and all of a sudden you start to drift. The ones who are separate to be holy now are separate because they're arrogant. The ones who wanted to uphold the law now have put a fence around the law and made the fence more important than the law. The ones who started off just trying to do right now are exercising performance and think their value is based off of what they do. This is Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee. Nicodemus is a brilliant teacher of the law. Nicodemus is of the elect group of the Sanhedrin 71 men who would weigh the councils in that time. He was a brilliant man. And what does he do? The Bible says he comes to Jesus at night and night. Can you see Nicodemus? I see him putting on his black Pharisee hoodie and sneaking out to go talk to Jesus. When, when at night he's going to talk to Jesus. Not in the daytime. He's going to talk to him at night. Now, I have been in church a long time and I've been preaching a long time. And let me tell you what most preachers do with the text like this. They completely castigate Nicodemus and say, well, he shouldn't have been come to see Jesus at night. Matter of fact, I've preached that message before. I preached it at a youth group called it Nick at Night.

[B]

It was a powerful.

[A]

It was a powerful, powerful sermon. And it's not on YouTube, thank God, because we, we. We talk about this Nicodemus who came at nighttime.

[B]

And, and here's the message. Here's the message.

[A]

See, he came at Night because he was embarrassed to come in the daytime.

[B]

He came at night because he didn't

[A]

want his Pharisee crew come to Jesus. See, that's just like some of y',

[B]

all, you undercover believers. You all, you lift up your hands

[A]

in the wind spirit, but you won't lift your hands up at work.

[B]

Oh, you real good in church, but you're not real good in the marketplace. You ain't nothing but a Nicodemus. And you came at night because you embarrassed of God. And I can't believe you would come at night. If you really love the Lord, you ought to come in the daytime. Don't be ashamed of God. He gonna be ashamed of you. And that. That's the message we preach. And it sounds aight.

[A]

But rather than castigate Nicodemus for coming

[B]

at night, I want to shout out Nicodemus for coming to Jesus at all. Here's the reality. You don't know that he came at night because he was embarrassed. Nowhere is that in the text. But isn't it funny how we will bring arrogance to certain people's lives? And we'll say, oh, I know why you didn't come in the daytime. You don't know what he was doing in the daytime. Maybe the nighttime was the right time because it was the only free time he had. And he said, I got to find something about this Savior. I know that he's real. I've seen the miracles. I've seen his works. And I'm gonna go to him. I want to thank God that he's glad you just came to him. It doesn't matter what time you come to Jesus. This is the message that we preach. Just come to Jesus whenever you can. Oh, I want to thank God that I can come to him anytime I want to. I want to thank God. I can come to him in the morning, and I can come to him at night. And some of y' all sitting there looking bougie. But don't act like you ain't never made a nighttime call to Jesus saying, oh, God, what have I gotten myself into? I need you. And I know it's. I know it's night, but I'm thankful

[A]

that God still takes nighttime meetings.

[B]

I'm thankful that God works the night shift. Matter of fact, I think that's what he does sometimes. Sometimes it's not until the night. That stuff will shift in your life. Oh, somebody's going through a dark season right now, and you think that God is distant from you. And I just came to prophesy that you can still meet with Jesus at night. You can be going through a dark season and still have an encounter with God. Don't make the enemy make you think that because his dark God is distant, he does some of his best work at.

[A]

You don't believe me?

[B]

Ask Paul and Silas. At midnight, it seemed like everybody had left them. It seemed like they were about to go down. But they started crying out to God at night. And all of a sudden God stepped in a prison cell and their chains and everybody's chains got loose. Because God can do a night shift. Somebody take a praise break at the Wind Spirit. Like you need him to shift some things in the middle of your dark season. Oh, I ain't gonna talk about Nicodemus for coming tonight. I salute you, Nick.

[A]

I appreciate you coming to Jesus at all.

[B]

It's what's wrong with the church today. How you gonna criticize how somebody comes

[A]

rather than celebrating the fact that they came? Can I just declare over this house? I'm just glad you're here.

[B]

I'm glad you're, if you came here, mad. I'm glad you're here, if you came here depressed. I'm glad you're here, if you came here, a skeptic. Guess what? You're the one that God might do a miracle for. Cause just the fact that you still came when you didn't feel like it. You still came while you had some doubts. You still came when you didn't have all the answers. But God shows up.

[A]

I'm glad that he'll take a meeting at night. Oh, I wish I had time. He'll take a meeting at night and let you come to him. Or if you turn the page, he'll go at noon day and sit at a well and wait for a woman to come to him. He'll come to the one that's religious that came at night and the one that was ratchet that came at noon. It doesn't matter. God says, I, I'll meet both of them. Both of them. Both of them anyway. And Nicodemus, he comes at night. And when he comes at night, listen to the first words out of his mouth. He says first words of Jesus, you got a meeting, bro. And this is the first thing you say. Rabbi, we know. We know that you are a teacher sent from God. For no one could do the miracles you do unless God was with them. He comes to Jesus and the first thing he declares is a declaration of what he knows. Instead of desperation, of what he needs. You gotta cut him some slack. After all, he is A teacher, he's brilliant, he's smart, he knows a lot of stuff. And so he thinks he's having a meeting teacher to teacher. So he comes to Jesus and says, well, Rabbi, we know. We know that you are a teacher sent from God. We. He doesn't even say, I know. Do you see how immersed he is into the community of the elect Sanhedrin, that he doesn't even have an individual thought. He is speaking on behalf of the community that he was so entrenched in and comes to Jesus and says, mm, we know. Can I just put this right here for somebody? God would rather have you come with a cry of desperation than a declaration of what you know. Mark Twain said, it's not what you know, rather without what you don't know to get you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so. And he comes to him and he says, I'm. We know your teacher sent from God because nobody could do the works you do except for God was with them. So in other words, you have our approval. No, I talked to the guys and I just want to let you know that you have our approval and we know that you've come from God. And Jesus response to Nicodemus is classic Jesus. Cause come on, if it's you and somebody has just given you an amazing compliment and said, hey, I know you're a teacher come from God, what would you say? Cause you normal. Hey, appreciate you. I'm glad you finally see the gift and the call that is on my life. Jesus does not do that. Ooh, I want to go slow. Look at the first words out of Jesus mouth to Nicodemus who says, we know you're a teacher sent from God. He says to him, truly, truly. I say to you, before I talk about what he said, I gotta talk about this. Truly, truly. Let the church say, truly, truly. Some versions say, verily, verily, truly, truly. That phrase in the original Greek is this Amen. Amen. I say to you, Amen. Amen, I say to you now, Jesus is the only person you will see in your Bible beginning a statement with Amen. Amen. I say to you, why? Because in Hebrew scriptures and all throughout your Bible, Amen is what other people would say in confirmation of the truth that somebody else said.

[B]

So when I say something and you

[A]

repeat Amen, you are agreeing with me. It is so. I'm in agreement. For instance, God should be praised all the time. Church, we gonna hit our six million

[B]

dollar goal so we can get in

[A]

our building and not have to jump.

[B]

Let me finish it. And I had to jump from venue to venue.

[A]

Should I keep going?

[B]

God did it for the Knicks. He can do it for the Cowboys. We going to win the Super Bowl. Don't you stop on them.

[A]

Amen.

[B]

Amen.

[A]

He's no respecter of teams,

[B]

so watch it. Amen is what you get somebody else

[A]

to say to agree to the truth that you declare.

[B]

But God says, I'm so different, I'm so other. I don't have to declare something that's true and wait for you to agree with it. I'm gonna begin the statement with amen. Amen. So you know what I'm about to say say is so true. You know why? Because I'm a God that has all power and all authority and nobody voted me in and nobody can vote me out. So since I have all power, I don't need anybody to agree with me when I got authority. Amen. Amen. I'm telling you it's true before you ever hear it. I love a God that can go, amen. Amen.

[A]

And I need anybody else to agree because he knows it's true. Amen. Amen. What? Now? Watch this. Anytime you see this in your Bible, read it. When you get to the crib, when you see truly, truly, verily, verily, Jesus is about to say something so other. He's about to say something so out of this world, you couldn't come up with it yourself. And watch this. Nicodemus would have been ready if he said amen. Amen. You should read the Torah more. He would have been like, yeah. Nicodemus wouldn't have been shocked if he would have said amen. Amen. You should fast more. But Jesus goes, amen. Amen. Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Amen. Amen. You must be born again. I'm sorry, social fam. That is one of the scariest verses of scripture in the entire Bible to me. Not because Jesus says, you must be born again. Birth is beautiful. Come on. That's why I'm turning up tomorrow. It's my birthday. I'm not shocked about the statement. I'm shocked by who he's saying it to. He looks at Nicodemus and says, you must be born again. Do you know who Nicodemus is? Ladies and gentlemen, I will tell you this. If you put your lifestyle on display and put Nicodemus lifestyle on display, I promise you that people will think Nicodemus is way more holy than you. Not forget who he is. He is a pharisee. That means he's got the first five books of the Old Testament memorized. That's 5,300 verses to memory. That's Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.

[B]

You still skip Leviticus in your Bible reading plan?

[A]

He's got it memorized.

[B]

That means he goes to the temple. That means he studies the scriptures. That means he is in church all the time. That means he cons consistently worships. That means he fasts. That means he prays. That means he tithes down to the smallest grain. And your God. And my Savior looks at a man that goes to church that has scripture memorized, that tithes, that worships consistently and

[A]

said, you need to be born again. You will not enter the kingdom, y'.

[B]

All.

[A]

That's scary to me because it lets me know that this has nothing to

[B]

do with behavior modification and everything to do with internal transformation. And you can be doing the right

[A]

things and still be dead in your sins. Nicodemus.

[B]

Nicodemus got a you must be born again. That makes me wonder, could it be

[A]

possible that I could be doing all the stuff, going through all the motions, and still need to be born again? Because birth is not something that you achieve. It is something that must be received. Jesus cuts to the heart of the manor and says, I can see in you, so let's not play this game. Let's not do these little niceties. I know where I'm sent from. I want to cut to the heart of the matter and let you know you've been spending your whole life trying harder, and you need to start over because this has nothing to do with your effort and everything to do with receiving. Truly, truly. I say to you, you must be born again. And Nicodemus starts doing what we would do, scratching his head, going, amara. How can a person when he's old go back into his mother's womb? How could. How can you go back? Birth is something that happens only once. And Nicodemus, by saying this, is letting us know that he can only see that which is in the flesh. He cannot see that which is in the spirit. Dr. Tony Evans says something I love. He says, if what you see is all you see, you have yet to see all there is to be seen. And Nicodemus is confused because he spent his whole life operating in the flesh, and he can't see things in the spirit. This is the tension that Jesus has all throughout the Gospels is that he is fully God and fully man. And sometimes he is talking on the level of the eternal, and sometimes they don't get it because all they can see is the natural. All they can see is what's in front of them. And one of the signs that you've been born again. Truly, as you see more than what you see, because your spirit sees some things that your flesh sees and your spirit sees something completely different. Nicodemus is confused. He came in with a statement.

[B]

Now he's stumped and he's got questions going. How in the world can a man

[A]

when he's old be born again?

[B]

How in the world can you go back into your mother's womb? Well, you don't even understand, Nicodemus. There's revelation in your confusion, because in

[A]

the natural, you only get one birth, one shot. In the natural, you don't get to try it again and again.

[B]

But in the spirit, how many are thankful that no matter what your past is, no matter how many times you fell down, God says, I don't care what the sin is. I don't care how long it's gone on, I already paid the price for it. So God says, I have the grace and my blood paid for you to have another chance. Yes, in the natural, you can't be born again. But is there anybody that's thankful in the spirit you can have another birthday. Oh, yes. I was born on June 15, 1984, but that wasn't my real birthday. The real birthday was when I was at a youth camp and I knew he was talking to me the whole time. And I walked down an altar on Padre island and I said, God, I know my parents have talked about you, but this day at 13, I gotta say, it's for me, it's real. And that's when I was born and my spirit came alive. I'm so thankful that you can have another birthday, Nicodemus, you only get one chance in the natural and you can't go back. But thank God for new birth.

[A]

Because even an old person can say, I spent my whole life running from you, God, but because of what you did. Not my record, but yours. I want to be born again. I'm wondering, are you going through life trying harder? When you need a child, start over.

[B]

The kingdom cannot be achieved.

[A]

It must be received. So he says to him, how can a man go back? And let's look at Jesus. What Jesus says as I land the plane, Jesus says to him, nicodemus, truly I say to you that unless you are born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. Nicodemus, you got to be born of water and of spirit. In other words, you done had a natural birth. That's water. That's why any mama in here would testify when you about to have that baby, your water breaks. He said you got that birth. But Nicodemus, even with all your scripture memorized, even with all your work at the temple, you've not accepted, experienced the second birth. And your problem is that you know too much. You know too much and you think it's what you know that gets you in. But nobody ever gets pregnant by information.

[B]

If you see a woman walking around

[A]

pregnant, you can know one thing.

[B]

She didn't read a book about intimacy.

[A]

Because information doesn't impregnate you. There must be intimacy. And Nicodemus, you got a lot of information, but you haven't gotten close. Now here's what blows my mind. Jesus talks about wind and birth and he connects the two. He connects the two because in the same way you can't see conception when it starts, you just see the evidence later. It's just like the wind. You can't see when the spirit is moving, but you can see the evidence of it. You can see with stuff you used to get bitter about, all of a sudden you're forgiving people about. You can, you can see it.

[B]

It's like the wind.

[A]

You can't see the spirit, but you

[B]

see the effects of it. You see, you used to go off on people and have so much rage and all of a sudden you got a peace that passes all understanding. You can't see the spirit, but you can see evidence of it. You can see you used to be depressed, but now you got so much joy. What's that? That's the Spirit doing something. It's just like a woman. You don't see the moment of conception, but how many know birth is undeniable.

[A]

So watch this. Here's what I want to leave you with. Real soft. I wonder in the church if we have disconnected spiritual birth and natural birth. Jesus chose the metaphor. We've connected the two, disconnected it.

[B]

Because how many know? I've never seen a woman say I'm pregnant and the next day

[A]

she got a full grown baby. Never seen it.

[B]

I've never seen anybody walk up to

[A]

a six month old and Go.

[B]

You're not talking yet.

[A]

That's all you got?

[B]

How is it in the natural, we

[A]

understand that conception is hidden. Pregnancy is gradual and birth is undeniable. But in the church, we want somebody to go immediately from conception to speaking Christianese.

[B]

And we will write people off and say, oh, no, you don't have anything. I don't see anything. But you don't see when conception has taken place. Oh,

[A]

this is what blows my mind about Nicodemus. Because after that moment with Jesus at night, most people today would go out.

[B]

Nicodemus wasn't changed because Nicodemus did not leave that meeting with Jesus that night and go, whoo, Hallelujah. I'm following you now. I'm a disciple. No, homeboy, went right back with the Pharisees. Afterwards, encounter with Jesus. Don't look like anything happened. You failed, Nicodemus, just like some people are saying to you, don't seem like your life has changed.

[A]

But it's interesting. There's three trimesters and we hear about Nicodemus three times. The first time is at night talking to Jesus.

[B]

The second time is in John, chapter seven, after he's gone back to the Sanhedrin. And look at what it says. They had sent some people to kill Jesus. And then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, why have you not brought him? Why haven't you brought Jesus? Where is he? And the officers answered, no man ever

[A]

spoke like this man.

[B]

Then the Pharisees answered them, are you also deceived? And have any of the rulers of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed. Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, being one of them, said to them, does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he's doing? Hold on. He talked to Jesus, went right back with the same crew that was against Jesus. But now all of a sudden, the dude that went to see Jesus tonight is standing up and going, hey, I ain't saying he shouldn't be killed. I'm just saying, doesn't our law say that we should at least hear a person's testimony before we take him out. That sounds like the second trimester to me. Be careful, Nicodemus. It looks like you've gone back to the same crew, but something has changed on the inside of you. You, it looks like conception has taken place. I don't know who I'm preaching to, but I'm talking to somebody that you got life you just don't got maturity. And people are judging you because they don't see the fruit of it yet. But keep showing up so you can keep growing up like Nicodemus. You're starting to show a little bit. Anybody ever been in a season where you tried to go go back, but you're starting to show a little bit? You tried to go to the club and they popping bottles, but it don't feel the same. You tried to go back to that crew, but it don't feel the same. Why? Because conception has taken place. I gotta hurry.

[A]

He comes to at night. First trimester John, chapter seven. Second trimester. I ain't saying we should kill him. I'm just saying we need to hear him out. Jesus dies on a cross. They hung him high. They stretched him wide. He died in that moment. I even wonder if Nicodemus was reminded of something Jesus threw in the conversation when he said, in the same way the bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness with Moses, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up. That when they were bitten by the poison of snakes, they only had one hope, not try harder. It was look up. And their redemption came from looking at the bronze serpent. He said, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up. I wonder if Nicodemus looked up that day and said, that's what he meant. He's the savior of the world. And then when the disciples deserted him, the ones who were with him left him. Do you know the third time we hear about nicotine, Nicodemus? It's in John, chapter 19, and it says after this. After what? After the cross. Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

[B]

And Nicodemus, who came at night first to Jesus, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and alloys and about a hundred pounds. Hold on, Nicodemus. Then they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with the spices. And the custom of the Jews is to bury. You mean to tell me the dude that had the conversation at night where conception took place? And then in John chapter seven, said, hey, maybe we should hear him out before we kill him. Now is the only one who's still there. When the disciples deserted him and said, I will pay whatever it costs to take the body. It looks like Nicodemus made it to the third trimester. It looks like something happened that night that nobody else could see because he took the very body of Jesus and prepared the burial. And thank God it was a borrowed tomb. Because how many know he didn't need it that long because after three days he got up from the grave and he realized this man truly was the son of God.

[A]

Stand to your feet. And history tells us that Nicodemus ends up getting baptized by Peter and John ends up being watch this outlawed and turned against by the very crew he used to run with. And historians say he was mobbed to death and was a martyr for the gospel. The man who had a conversation at night that it didn't look like anything happened, but the seed of God's word had taken place. I wonder if we don't have a revelation of what born again really looks like. I'm thankful for the moments where it's an instant and a moment and everything changes. But for some of us, it goes from hidden conception to gradual pregnancy to birth that is undeniable. I don't know where you are in the journey, but here's what I know. You must be born again. This is not a gospel of try harder. This is a gospel of start over. And in the same way, you can contribute nothing to your natural birth, you cannot contribute to your spiritual birth. It was his work, his blood. Your response is to surrender. So I'm gonna ask every head be bowed and eyes closed today. Sometimes it starts with admitting you don't know. You don't know. Losing the arrogance of some certainty to have childlike curiosity says, even if all my questions aren't answered, God, I'm surrendering. And I believe you lived the life I was supposed to live and you died the death I was supposed to die. So with heads bowed and eyes closed, today I want to invite somebody to receive because it must be received the free gift of salvation. You were bought with a price. You don't try harder. You surrender. You must be born again. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. If you're here today and say, hey, pr, I need to surrender my life to the Savior. I need to be born again. You've had natural birth by water. There must be another birth by spirit. And Nicodemus is proof you can know all the scriptures and be coming to church and still not be born again. So today, with heads bowed and eyes closed, if you're here today and you say, hey, pr, Today's my day, I need to give him my life, would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I could see it? Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. I see that hand. Anybody else? Thank you. Hands are going up all over this place. Even at the top. I see those hands. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God. That's what he wants, is your surrender. It's not about you trying harder. It's not about your record. It's about his. Anybody else? I'm gonna lead us in this prayer just before Pastor Josh comes to give us some more direction. But I'm gonna give you the words. I want us all to say it, especially those of you who responded. Would you say this? Say, jesus, I need you. Jesus, I believe you are the son of God. Jesus, I believe that you lived the life I was supposed to live. And you died the death I was supposed to die. You took my place. So today I surrender. Forgive me of my sin. Make me brand new. I want to be born again. And, Lord, I know I don't achieve it. I receive it. From this moment forward, all that I am is yours. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Come on. Can we give God some praise today?

[B]

Come on.

[A]

You could do better than that. Come on, let's give God some praise today.