DAY 1 -

Last week we have seen a little bit about the life of the Kennedy's family. This week we are going to see just a little bit more about the life of John Kennedy Jr.
Three years ago, John came back from his honeymoon three days earlier to come and visit Billy Graham. He came with his newly wed wife to interview Billy Graham for the George magazine. Billy Graham said that John was a very good looking young man with such a broad range of knowledge. He was very fond of his father and he always wanted to know his father. He knew his Christian faith well. In addition, it was obvious that John and his wife had a lot of love between them. Billy tried to find out John's relationship with his Lord. After talking for a while, John admitted that he was still looking for "something more" out of this life; that "something more" that he was looking for can not be found in fame and fortune.

Now, let us look at another person. This person is not a celebrity that lives in the 20th century, but he was a man that lived in the 1st century and his story was recorded in the book of John chapter 3. His name is Nicodemus. He was looking for "something more", just like John Kennedy Jr. Who was Nicodemus? Nicodemus is a religious and spiritual man, in fact he is a Pharisee. What is a Pharisee? Pharisees are very dedicated religious men; they take a solemn oath to keep the ten commandments and some other Jewish laws; they are very devout people; they prays multiple times in a day; they fasts; they are teachers of the law and they know the scripture very well. Nicodemus is one man from among this religious and spiritual group. One night, Nicodemus came to Jesus to ask Him some questions. Basically his question is based on the fact that he can not deny that there is something different about Jesus. Jesus has "that something" that Nicodemus is looking for.

Now let us look at our own lives. Are we like John Kennedy Jr. or Nicodemus? Are we still looking for "something more" out of this life? After we finished school, we taught that what we needed was a good job. Then when the career did not satisfy, we said that all that we needed was a wife. Then, we got married. Life in marriage was good, but we still want "something more." We taught that what we needed was children. So, we had children. Then when a good family still did not satisfy, we taught that maybe a bigger home and a better car was the answer. Maybe longer and more frequent vacation would help us in finding satisfaction. Then, when we finally realized that career, family and material things did not satisfy, we turned to religion. Maybe what we needed was a religion and a spiritual experience. But, even after trying that the "emptiness" in our heart is still there. We want "something more" that can not be found in career, in material things, in family nor in religion. We want that sense of accomplishment and significance in life, that sense of purpose in life and knowing that our life here on earth is not wasted, that peace that come with a hope that can not be lost, that joy that can overcome any difficult circumstances. But, where can we find this "something more"? After all, this is such a classic problem. People from Nicodemus time to people in this age, like John Kennedy Jr., are looking for this "something more." Have we found it or have we not found it?
 
 

DAY 2 -
What is this "something more" that we have been searching for years?
We want "something more" that can not be found in career, in material things, in family nor in religion.  We want that sense of accomplishment and significance in life, that sense of purpose in life and knowing that our life here on earth is not wasted, that peace that comes with a hope that can not be lost, that joy that can overcome any difficult circumstances.  But, where can we find this "something more"?  After all, this is such a classic problem.  People from Nicodemus time to people in this age, like John Kennedy Jr., are looking for this "something more."  Have we found it or have we not found it?

Let us look at how Jesus answered Nicodemus after he expressed his need for "something more."  I want to explain this using the following short script between A and B.

A:   After Nicodemus expressed his need for "something more", Jesus said in John 3 that Nicodemus had to be BORN AGAIN.
B:   Born again!  I don't like it when Christians start talking about being born again.  It is such an abstract concept that I can never understand.
A:   Friend, hang on.  Let us continue to see what Jesus said.  Jesus continued, "flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit."
B:   Now, what is this all about?  Haven't I tell you that this born again concept is abstract and confusing.
A:   Friend, this is what being born again means:  We were born in flesh, now we have to be born again in spirit.
B:   Why?  How does this relate to the "something more" that we are looking for?
A:   In flesh we will always looking for "something more" for flesh can not be satisfied.  On the other hand, in spirit we will find that "something more" for spirit always satisfies.
A:  Does this mean that in the spirit we will find that significance in life, purpose in life, peace and joy beyond comprehension and hope that can not be lost?
B:   By all means, yes!
A:   But, I thought yesterday we talked about the fact that even "religion and spiritual experience" can not satisfy or fulfill my need for that "something more" out of this life.
B:   Friend, that is true!  Religion, practicing religion and becoming a religious man do not satisfy.  We see that in Nicodemus, a very spiritual person, a very religious person.  We also see that in John Kennedy Jr, , a religious person with good knowledge of his Christian faith.  Becoming a religious person is different than becoming a person that "knows God."  God is a spiritual being, therefore we have to be born of the spirit before we can "know God."  "Knowing God" will satisfy, for knowing God is actually finding that "something more" that we are looking for.  God put that longing for "something more" in our heart, so that we will keep searching for it to be fulfilled.  That "something more" is actually a relationship with Him.  This relationship will bring the significance in life, purpose in life, peace and joy beyond comprehension and hope that can not be lost.  This relationship is that something that you keep looking for.
 
 

DAY 3 -
How to fulfill the need for that "something more" Yesterday, we see that God put that longing for "something more" in our heart, so that we will keep searching for it to be fulfilled. That "something more" is actually a relationship with Him. This relationship will bring the significance in life, purpose in life, peace and joy beyond comprehension and hope that can not be lost. This relationship is that something that we have been looking for. This relationship with God can only be obtained if we are born again in the spirit.

What does this mean? This is what born again in spirit means:
a. Born again in spirit means go back to the starting point. "BORN" is a starting point. We have to go back to the starting point.
Nicodemus has led most of his life on a certain course. He has been in his road for such a long way. He is too settled in his way of life. How can he go back to the starting point? This is why he said in John 3, "How can I be born again?" Yes, we may be asking the same question as Nicodemus. We have been so settled with our way of life. How can we go back to the starting point?
b. Born again in spirit means an inward change. This inward change means to put to death the flesh and to live in the spirit.
Gal 5: 19-23 says that the fruit of the flesh is sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. ... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now, we see again the need to be born again. We have to put to death all of those flesh desires that are not good, such as envy, jealousy, selfish ambition and many more. Then, we have to start living in the spirit that will produce all the good things such as joy, peace, love and many more.
c. Born again in spirit means a miracle. We have tried to change, but we can not. Just like getting an old car. We put a new paint and we put a new seat cover. Sure it has a new appearance, yet it is still the same old car. We may put a new appearance to our lives, but it is still the same old you. We need a change from within. We need an inward change, but we can not. Friends, yes we can. We can, not because we can, but because God can. God is the one that will change you by His miraculous hand to change your life. All that we have to do is to surrender our lives to Him and He will do the rest.

Isn't that true! The only problem with being born again is actually the problem about SURRENDERING. Who wants to surrender! Surrender is not easy to be done, but this is what God wants us to do, that is to surrender our lives to Him. Are you willing to surrender your life to God? This is the only way to fulfill your need for that "something more."
 
 

DAY 4 - What's your choice?
Yesterday we have seen the meaning of being born again of the spirit. Man's problem with the born again is not the concept that is hard to understand, but the willingness to accept it. God has put that longing for "something more" in man's heart. Man will keep searching for its fulfillment until the day he dies. The only answer for that "something more" is a relationship with God. This relationship can only be obtained if you are born again of the spirit. After being born again in
spirit, then we can find the significance in life, the purpose in life, the joy and peace that bring hope that can not be lost. Yes, but to get this we have to surrender our lives to God. We have to ask Him to come into our lives and change our hearts. Only He can change our hearts.

For this week, let us close by concentrating and meditating on this beautiful song:

There is none like you
No one else can touch my heart like you do
I have search for all eternity long, but find ... there is none like you

Friends, it is our own choice! Do we want to keep searching for that
"something more" or do we want to fulfill that need. We do not know
whether John Kennedy Jr. ever found the fulfillment for that "something
more". There were three years in between his death and his conversation
with Billy Graham when he stated that he was still looking for
"something more." How many years have you been searching for "something
more"? Do you want to fulfill it? What is your choice?

~END~