NICODEMUS / Nicodemus

NICODEMUS by Kent And Rebecca Cooley

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This is the 4^th of 7 devotions with the theme of

"Salvation"

NICODEMUS

(Adapted from John 3:1-21)

Song: Nicodemus

The story of Nicodemus is a story only recorded in the book of John and reveals an intimate part of Jesus’ love walk. It seems that Jesus revealed details of mysteries to some outside of his circle of twelve. Nicodemus risked his life to seek out Jesus that night and Jesus seized the moment to reveal to him a great truth.

It’s dark and quiet out. Everyone is settled down. Everyone but Nicodemus . . . Nicodemus carefully slips into the darkness. He knows where Jesus is staying. He had seen him earlier and he is sure that he can talk to him alone.

“I have to have some answers! I must talk with this man. Why am I so drawn to this man? Here, I think this is where he is staying…”

“Come in Nicodemus. I felt that I might see you again. Come, sit with me.”

Even before Nicodemus took a seat, he was talking, “Rabbi, we are certain that you have come from God as a teacher. No one can do these signs and miracles that you do unless God is with him.”

“I assure you, Nicodemus, a man must be born again to see the Kingdom of God.”

“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again?

“Nicodemus, humans can only reproduce human life but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. Don’t be confused when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ Just like you feel the wind but you cannot tell me where it comes from or where it is going, you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these things possible . . . ?”

“Nicodemus, You are a respected Jewish teacher and you have so much to learn! No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But I have come from heaven. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and believe, I will be lifted up for everyone to see. Everyone who believes this will have eternal life. The Father loves you so much that He sent me. God sent me, not to judge you Nicodemus, but to save you. He made a way for you. He made a way for all people. Nicodemus, you can have eternal life. All you have to do is believe.”

John doesn’t record Nicodemus’ response but do you think truth could have dawned on him during his conversation with the Messiah? Could he have whispered this just before he slipped back into the darkness . . .? “Teacher, I believe.”

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NICODEMUS

Devotion: Nicodemus

(Adapted from John 3:1-21)

Verse 1:

There was a certain man among the Pharisees

Nicodemus, Nicodemus

A ruler, a leader, an authority among the Jews

Chorus:

Nicodemus, Nicodemus

Came to Jesus by night and said Rabbi

Verse 2:

We know and are certain that You have come from God

As a Teacher, as a Teacher

For no one can do these signs

These wonder working miracles

Unless God is with him

Verse 3:

Jesus answered him

I assure you, most solemnly

Unless you’re born again

You’ll never ever see

The Kingdom of God

Chorus:

Nicodemus, Nicodemus

Came to Jesus by night

And said Rabbi

Verse 4:

How can a man be born

When he is old?

Jesus answered

What is born of the flesh is flesh

What is born of the Spirit is spirit

Do not be surprised

At My telling you

You must be born again

Born anew from above

You must all be born again

Born anew from above

Chorus:

Nicodemus, Nicodemus

Came to Jesus by night

And said Rabbi

©LoveWalkPublishing ©LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by Kent Clifford Cooley

Devotion and Recitation authored by Rebecca Ann Cooley

THE DOOR / EXIT

This is the 3^rd of 7 devotions with the theme

"Salvation"

THE DOOR

Song: Exit

(Adapted from John 10:7)

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I, Myself, am the Door for the sheep.

These words also mean, 

I am the way by which people enter the true church. It is by My merits, My intercession, My aid, My appointment, and My redemption that they enter. Inside this door you will find communion with My Father and inside this door you will partake of the blessings of grace. When you walk through this door, you will find peace, joy, comfort and deliverance from your enemies. This door is the pathway to eternal life into heaven itself.

It is a comforting peace to know the Door is open for me. When I walk through that door, my enemies cannot follow. When I walk through that Door, Jesus becomes my Mediator with the Father.

Lord, thank you for making entrance to the Father for me. I walk through straight to the throne room this morning covered by Your grace. And I find mercy and loving kindness to cover me at the start of my day. I will extend mercy to others today because I have walked through that Door.

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EXIT

Devotion: The Door

(Adapted from John 10:7)

Verse 1:

As your look across the room

Of a world of sin and sorrow

You will see a sign of crimson red

That will point cha to the place

Where Jesus bled

Chorus:

Jesus is the door that says “Exit”

Exit from all your sin and strife

If you’re tattered and torn, He will fix it

And He will give to you a better life

Verse 2:

At Calvary the door it was open

Open for eternal life to find

They sealed Him in in a tomb

But He up and left it

And now that Jesus lives,

He gives us life

© LoveWalkPublishing WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

Devotion by RebeccaCooley

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A Sinner In Need Of A Savior / Directions

This is the 2^nd of 7 devotions with the theme

"Salvation"

A SINNER IN NEED OF A SAVIOR

by
Kent Cooley

(Adapted from John 3:16; Hebrew 4:15; Ephesians 2:9; Romans 10:9)

What did God have to do to redeem us? First of all, God had to love the world to such a great extent that He would give His only begotten son to be conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin and to be offered as a blood sacrifice for the sins of the world. What did Jesus have to do to redeem us? He had to walk on this earth as a man, be tempted in every manner as a man is tempted yet never yield to temptation that He may be the sinless spotless lamb of God to be offered as a sacrifice to redeem us. To buy us back.

Although the Father fulfilled His responsibility and the son fulfilled His responsibility to redeem us, we have a responsibility. We are not saved by works lest any man should boast but we are saved by grace through faith. Grace is what God has done to redeem us. Faith is receiving redemption by believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that God has raised Jesus from the dead, humbling ourselves, confessing our sins. This is how we are saved and redeemed by His blood.

Father, I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that you raised up your son Jesus from the dead. I know that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I confess my sins to you. I receive Your son Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour.

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DIRECTIONS

Devotion: A Sinner In Need Of A Savior

(Adapted from Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:9; Matthew 7:14)

Verse 1

I stopped to ask directions

On the side of the road

Just where to find forgiveness

From a sin stricken soul

It was an old preacher,

He had an old black book

I opened it up and read as I looked

Chorus

A heart of repentance, a bended knee

A mouth that confesses

He is risen believes

You’ll never find it by any good deeds

These words will lead you

To forgiveness so free

These are directions to Calvary’s tree

Verse 2

I’ll always remember the day when I prayed

When I started traveling

The strait and narrow way

When I get to heavens portals

This will be the song I sing

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

©LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

Devotion by KentCliffordCooley

LOVE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR / HeLivesInside

This is the 1^st of 7 devotions with the theme of

"Salvation"

To be rooted and grounded in love

one must first receive Christ and be born again.

If you have not been born again,

this is where your love walk will begin.

If you are born again this is where your love walk began.

It is the love of God that is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit

(Romans 5:5).

LOVE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR

(Adapted from John 16:8)

Jesus prophesied that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convict and convince the world of sin. He would demonstrate to the world uprightness of heart and right standing with God. He would expose sin and prove to people that they are in need of a Savior.

I am a preacher’s kid. I grew up sleeping under church pews. I was in church every night. R.W. Schambach bounced me on his knee. I heard every sermon about sin and tribulation and hell that there was in those days. I heard it all. I would go to the altar after hearing a message that made me afraid. Fear led me to the altar many times before my ninth birthday. I didn’t want to be left behind. But every time I walked away from the altar, I was not changed. One day when I was nine and at a youth camp, a counselor came into our room. It was past curfew time and the lights were off. He was weeping when he stepped into our room. He talked about Calvary. He said if we rejected Calvary, we would be rejecting His love. I felt conviction. I began to weep and sob. It was the Holy Spirit that I felt, bringing conviction to my heart. This time the Holy Spirit was convincing my heart that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. There was no fear involved. I made my way to the big open tabernacle and to the altar. This time I was changed because the Holy Spirit did the work of conviction and convinced me of my sin. He convinced me that I needed to be in right standing with the Father. I left the altar that night changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had knocked on my door and brought love and not fear. Love changed me and I am still changed by the power of that love.

Father, thank you for conviction motivated by love and not by fear. I renounce my sin because of Your great love for me. I love You and want a relationship with You now and through all eternity. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for convincing me to turn my heart toward the Father. I am so glad that I did.

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HE LIVES INSIDE

Devotion: Love Knocked on My Door

(Adapted from John 16:8)

Verse 1:

Years ago at a youth camp it was late at night,

Someone knocked upon our door and they stepped inside

They talked about the love of Jesus that is when I cried

I got up and I went outside, I walked to that old camp alter,

I opened my heart’s door wide

Chorus:

He lives inside, I’m so glad I let Him in,

He took away my sin, He abides, He lives inside

When He came he came to stay,

The Truth, the Light, the Way lives inside

Verse 2:

It’s been a long, long journey since I first begun

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come

The same One who knocked upon my heart’s door to reside

Is the One who will evermore abide

He’ll be there what ‘ere may be tide

© LoveWalkPublishing WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley Devotion by KentCliffordCooley