Michael Youssef - Hope Mexico Celebration (TV Special)
Hello, Veracruz. So wonderful to be with you. It's a great honor and a privilege to be with you. And I came all this way not to bring you a word from me but from Jesus. And Jesus said you must be born again. And Jesus said those words to one of the hierarchy in the religious of Judaism. I'm here to tell you what God said about being born again. Two words in the English language, but they're very powerful words. Two words, but they are filled with significance and with meaning in life. Two words, but they can bring joy and peace into your life. Two words, but they can introduce you to the power for living. Only by being born again will you experience radical transformation in your life tonight.
By being born again, you will discover purpose for living tonight. By being born again, you will have victory over sin, guilt, and addiction. I know what happened in my life when I became born-again. It transformed my life. And it transformed me from hopelessness to hope. It transformed my life from meaninglessness to joy. But I know also there are millions of people in Mexico and around the world whose life being transformed when they become born-again. And it is my prayer tonight that hundreds of you will become born-again tonight.
In John, in the Gospel of St. John chapter 3. A man named Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night. He was a religious man. He was an important man. He was high up in the religious hierarchy. He occupied a high position in the religious court called the Sanhedrin. And he came to Jesus by night. Even though he was a religious man. And yet, Nicodemus was burdened with guilt and hopelessness for life. He was burdened by hypocrisy and feeling of inadequacy. So he comes to Jesus at night. He did not want to be seen with Jesus during the day. He did not want to come across a Jesus fanatic. So he comes to him in the dark of night. Yet this man was really sincere and humble.
Nicodemus said, "We know you come from God"! "For no one can perform this amazing miracles if it's not from God". My friend, this is very important. Nicodemus and the other religious leaders recognized that Jesus had God's approval. They knew that all these religious rituals and performances cannot perform miracles. All of the religious rituals could not transform lives. But Jesus is the only one who can set you free. And he wants to set you free tonight. Hundreds of you are gonna be set free tonight. At first Jesus's answer to Nicodemus was very troubling to him. It sounded very strange to him. With all of his studies. With all of his learning. With all of his knowledge. With all of his religious observance. He could not understand what Jesus is saying.
Nicodemus was taught that if he does all the religious rituals. He will be okay with God. But that is not true. Jesus is the only one who's perfectly good. And that is why he's the only one who can make you right with God the Father. And that is why Jesus came from heaven. And Jesus said, "No one will experience peace here and now and eternity in heaven unless they are born again". So what does born-again mean? The word "again" communicates something that has to be done a second time. Something radical has to happen on the inside of you. My friends, I came all this way to tell you this. You and I can never bring about the power of transformation of our lives. Even if you did good works 24 hours, seven days a week for a million years.
So what is the answer? The answer is to come and belong to Christ. And to be in the kingdom of God means that Jesus must reign supreme on your life. Let's look at this encounter between this religious man, Nicodemus, and Jesus. He came to Jesus risking the anger of his peer. He risks being taunted by his friends. He risks an expulsion from the counsel. He risks the scorn even of members of his own family. But I'm glad he came to Jesus. As I pray tonight, many of you will come to Jesus. I know many of you who came tonight are seeking the truth. You're tired of this religious ritual stuff. You came here looking for real answers. Many of you are discontented and dissatisfied of where you are now.
Many of you feel powerless under your circumstances. And many of you are tired of false remedies. Deep down, you know nothing worked. But tonight, you can come to the one who truly loves you. The one who cares for you. The God who has a plan for your life. And that is why God brought you here tonight. So that you can hear the good news, the great news of the gospel. Nicodemus was puzzled at what Jesus told him. So Nicodemus asked Jesus, "Do I have to go into my mother's womb and be born again"? Which gave the Lord Jesus Christ the opportunity to explain what born-again means. Born-again is an act of total change of direction. It's a symbol of radical change of life. It's not just trying to improve your life. It's not trying to reform your life. It's not just hoping that I'll do better next time.
I tried all of that and failed miserably. Until I like millions of others around the world become born-again. We cannot change ourselves. All of our efforts are useless. I'm sure some of you are asking. "How is this total transformation possible"? Oh, my friend, it's only possible when God the Holy Spirit comes on the inside of you. And when he comes on the inside of you, he turns. He turns everything upside down in your life. And that's why Jesus said, "When you're born again, you get reborn of the Holy Spirit". It's a spiritual rebirth, not physical rebirth. To be physically born means that you are physically alive. But to be spiritually born, it means that you have become spiritually alive. Most people don't want to admit that they are sinful. And they cannot save themselves.
Most people allow their pride to dominate their thinking. And their pride blinds them to the real need for the Savior. Most people cling to the idea that they're gonna do some good, and that's gonna outweigh the bad. But God said, "No". "You need a total revolution on the inside of you". "You need a total renovation". "You need to repent". "And you need to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior and Lord". Why else do you think Jesus left the glories of heaven? Why did he come to earth and live like the poorest of the poor? Why did he, this perfect, sinless Son of God, die on the cross and then rise again? In order to demonstrate of his power that he will rise you from the dead, he rose from the dead.
That's why God sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's whenever anyone realizes that they are sinner and they're going to hell, come to Jesus. He saves them eternally. So when God the Father looks at you. See you through Jesus and sees you as perfect. Only Jesus can do that, and that is why everyone who would come to Jesus tonight. Repent of their sins. Will be able to get to heaven with Jesus.
I'm gonna tell you a story from incident from my life as I close. I had a dear friend and neighbor. Every time I have the chance to talk to him, I tell him about Jesus, and he needs to come to Jesus. He would say to me, "Michael, I'm a heathen. I'm too far gone". I said, "You are halfway there". "Confessing that you're a sinner is halfway there". "But that's not enough". "You have to ask for his forgiveness". "You have to receive him as Savior and Lord". Oh, my friend would not do that.
And sadly, I can tell you that he died in his sin. But God is saying to you tonight, "I'll give you a new heart". "When you come and take that second step". Confessing that you're a sinner is only halfway. Acknowledging that only Jesus can forgive you all of your sins is the rest of the story. You will not only have peace, joy, and purpose in this life. But you will be assured of eternity with Jesus. Would you stand up please? I know that the Holy Spirit has spoken to many of you. Come on down and say, "Lord Jesus Christ, I'm ready to be born again". We're gonna have the chance to pray with you.
Oh, heavenly Father, you're the one who sent your Son, Jesus, to die for us, and you're the one who called everyone here tonight in order that their names might be written in the Book of Life tonight. We know there is a joy in heaven over every single person who's standing here tonight. And Father, I pray for each person. As you forgive their sins and give them eternal life, I pray that you bless them everywhere they go, that there will be a blessing for Jesus's sake until we meet in heaven. All of God's people said amen.