How can these things be? Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: How can these things be? -------------------------- Date: 8/14/2002 Keywords: "belief” “doubt” “faith" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: John 3:9-11* 9. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10. Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. Questions 1. Read John chapter 3. Who was Nicodemus? Why was he visiting Jesus?   2. How long have you been a Christian?   3. Would you consider yourself a leader in your community? If not, do you aspire to being a leader in the future?   4. Why is pornography a problem for a leader?   Practical help It doesn’t matter if you have been a Christian for years, are a fairly new believer, or are still in the searching mode, you have probably heard of the famous passage John 3:16. Well, for the next few days, let’s look at this section in John’s Gospel and consider how it relates to our problems with lust. Begin first by asking God to give you wisdom because it is easy to read familiar words and pick nothing new up. James 1:5 says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” How often have you wondered what others thought a passage meant, and yet didn’t ask God to help you understand? Perhaps that was Nicodemus’s real problem. Although he was smart and well educated, he didn’t understand life from God’s perspective. That’s a real problem if you are claiming to be Christ’s follower. So what would it take for you to believe God about the problem of pornography and your appetite for it? In some ways it might be easier on us if He just nailed us every time we sinned. Of course, if He did this, we would no longer be operating from choice, but fear. Also our ability truly to grow in love for Him would probably become impossible. So Jesus calls us to reason with Him. Consider His words, and then act voluntarily to become the person He desires you to be. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---