The Sign of Faith
Notes
Transcript
The Sign of Faith
John 4:46-54
miracles, signs and wonders
New Series: 7 Signs of Jesus.
First was Jesus turning water into wine in John 2.
Seeing something before it happens.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown in fiery furnace. "Our God can deliver, but even if he doesn't..."
12 Spies. 2nd time 40 years later Joshua says, "Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.
47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.
52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.
54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
4 Step Progression of Faith
4 Step Progression of Faith
1. I Must See It (48)
1. I Must See It (48)
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
Desperate parent goes on a journey to find Jesus (20 miles from home- on foot).
This was not a test. This was a man journeying in faith.
We will see others in this series that just want to test Jesus.
Doubting Thomas
This statement is probably given to everyone who was there.
2. I Believe It (50)
2. I Believe It (50)
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
Belief was in Jesus' word.
41 And many more believed because of his word.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
It's not a completely blind faith. It's based on the truth of God's Word.
God has proven himself, we must trust his Word.
3. I Will See It (50-51)
3. I Will See It (50-51)
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.
Hope- confidence in the future. God will complete what he started.
He waits until the next morning to return home and see.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
ILL- He Never Failed Me Yet.
Negro Spiritual
African culture speaks like this. He has never failed me so he never will.
4. I Saw It (51-53)
4. I Saw It (51-53)
51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.
52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.
I will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13)
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Jesus said to Thomas
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
CONCLUSION
Others believed because of his faith.
53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.
ILL- Miller Cunningham testimony of India. - Whole households believe.
ILL- I took that idea and applied it in Malawi.
Asked those training in 4 Fields to share their faith with their whole family.
One man came back the next day and said his whole family accepted Jesus.
Is your faith something that draws other’s to Jesus? Do you need to put your faith in Jesus?
Is your faith something that draws other’s to Jesus? Do you need to put your faith in Jesus?