John 7:1-31

Be Faithful in Your Calling

Jesus came into this world to preach the Gospel and not without opposition. From birth, ministry to death – opposition is present!

In the passage, we read how Jesus showed extreme patience in facing hostility against the unbelieving crowd. He went to the feast despite the threat. He did it to fulfill His calling – to preach the Gospel of Grace.

When God saves a person, that person becomes a part of God’s family. And that person receives a calling – To Give Glory to God in his or her life. To be god’s representative through the proclamation of the Gospel.

And in order to glorify God, we need to be faithful in our calling.

3 Ways to Show our Faithfulness to our Calling based on our passage:

1. Be faithful in your calling despite the doubt.

2. Be faithful in your calling despite the hate and threat to your life.

3. Be faithful in your calling because God is sovereign

1. Be faithful in your calling despite the doubt (vv.1-8)

a. His step-brothers doubted him and mocked him.

b. His family was his number 1 doubter.

c. They became followers after the resurrection – James and Jude.

Santiago 1:1 “Ako si Santiago nga alagad sa Dios ug ni Ginoong Jesu-Cristo.”

Judas 1:1 “Ako si Judas, igsoon ni Santiago ug alagad ni Jesu-Cristo.”

Persuasion:

What would happen if Jesus stopped preaching because his family doubted him?

Application:

• We are called to be faithful despite the doubt of our family members and the people around us.

What if your family will not support your newfound faith in Christ?

What if your family members will pull you down? (bawalan ka?)

• Do not force your family to support you and to believe in you. Just let God do what he does best - changing the heart.

2. Be faithful in your calling despite the hate and threat to your life (vv.9-31)

a. The Jews were looking for him (v.11)

b. Jesus preached the gospel despite the threat (v.14)

c. The Jews were amazed at His teaching (v.15).

d. In the same way, God will give us wisdom when we preach and teach the Gospel (John 14:26)

e. The Crowd maligned Jesus and said “You have a demon” (v.20)

f. Jesus responded with such patience and kindness (vv.21-24)

g. Jesus responded by focusing on the truth (vv.28-29)

Application:

• When someone will hate you for being a faithful follower of Jesus, it means you are doing the will of God.

Darkness will always hate the light!

John 15:18(NASB95)

18“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

• Respond like Jesus – be patient and focus on the truth.

• Preach the Gospel without FEAR. (because…show next point)

3. Be faithful in your calling because God is sovereign

a. He was protected by the sovereign hands of God – “my time has not yet come” – (v.6, v8, v.30)

Illustrate:

Luke 21:16–19(NASB95)

16“But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,

17and you will be hated by all because of My name.

18“Yet not a hair of your head will perish.

19“By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Application:

• Trust that God will protect and sustain you and no harm will fall upon you unless that Lord will allow it to accomplish His greater purpose.

Conclusion:

As a Christian, you have a precious and very important calling – to glorify God through a faithful proclamation of the Gospel in your words and actions. You will be hated for it but do not lose hope. God is with you!

God will supply you with wisdom and courage whenever you face opposition.