What is Authentic Faith?

John 4:46-54.

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Introduction

10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Tightrope Walker)

There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow. An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, “Tightrope, I don’t believe you can do it, but I’m willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.”

Now, Tightrope wrote back, “Sir, although I’ve never been to America and seen the Falls, I’d love to come.”

Well, after a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the American side. Drums roll, and he comes across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the falls—blindfolded!! And he makes it across easily. The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says,

“Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?”

“Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it.”

“No,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?”

“Well of course I do, you just did it.”

“No, no, no,” said Tightrope, “do you believe I can do it?”

“Yes,” said Mr. Promoter, “I believe you can do it.”

“Good,” said Tightrope, “then you get in the wheelbarrow.”

In many ways our true belief can be tested, and we may want to waver, and our belief can be tested. Today we will see a story of man and how his belief in Jesus, leads to authentic faith in Jesus.

John 4:46–54 “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. 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. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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.” 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. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.”

Pray

John 20:31 (ESV):  but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Draw the distinction of faith and belief

Belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists

Faith is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

In a clearer definition, complete trust or confidence is someone or something

Story of airplane and parachute. We can have belief such as a believing the parachute will work when we jump out of a plane. Faith is the act of jumping out of the plane and pulling the chute.

Jesus confronts our unbelief- V. 46-49

John 4:46–49 “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. 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. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.””

Explanation-

Give the context of where we are. We are in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. This event is happening post time of the water to wine miracle. So the people of Galilee knew of the miracles Jesus could perform.

With that gives the man, who was a royal official, the hope that maybe Jesus can perform the miracle of saving his son. he was most likely in the service of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee from 4 b.c. to a.d. 39.

in his mind he imagined Jesus having to come down the hills of Galilee to get to Capernaum. SHOW MAP

This is important to note to where he was asking Jesus to go, and where he was asking him to come down from.

What is the man asking Jesus to do? To heal his dying son, and the wording here isnt perfect. But it’s like he begging, much like how you all act when we start to play a game you don’t want to. Like the skittle game last week

BUT BUBBBAAAAAA

While most of your alls is a complaint, the official was truly seeking for his son the be healed.

I need to tie into verse 45 with 48, the man has unbelief Jesus can heal his son without him going. The unbelief of the you. He is speaking to the plural of Galileans.

Tie into the difference of belief between the Samaritans and the

Illustration

of me needing to signs of red lights be green on Lone oak road or 31 W

We have a tendency to put God in a box. Do this and then i’ll do this.

Continued explanation

The man changes his demeanor, yes we was pleading, but now he is absolutely heart broken. Look at how he addresses his son in verses

Application

For mostly unbelievers of Jesus, what stops you?

I have a list

Is it your pride?

Is it being ignorant to the true level of sin

I am a good person. I’m nice. I stand up for the little guy

I am morally okay.

Do you love your sin?

Drug abuse

slothfulness

Being distracted by things such as relationships, games, friendships,

Jesus can conquer our unbelief - V. 50-54

John 4:50–54 “Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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.” 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. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.”

Explanation

Jesus responds to the man’s last cry of desperation of help and need. He simply says go, and then affirms the son will live.

The man could have done 2 things. What they be? Order them. He could have not believed and continued to plead with Jesus for him to go.

Or he can do what he did. He believed the words of Jesus, he obeyed the command to go. He then had faith his so would be healed.

Set the scene of the official beginning his journey back down the hill/mountain of Galilee.

The miracle man told him. He does not have a cell phone to call back to the house and check

All he has is the words, and his own thoughts. As he was walking down the hill, imagine his thoughts.

Should i keep going. How can i know? What happens if he doesn’t get better? What will my family do when I come back wit no Jesus?

Then he hears his name being yelled out by familiar voices.

Illustration- Conquering/overcoming unbelief

Johnny Fulton- hit by car at age 3, crushed hips, broke ribs, compound fracture in 2 legs. Was it likely this boy would do anything ever again? It would be hard for him to believe. But, from the time he could he worked, he made steps, and all of those injuried which could have left him for dead, he overcame them and went on to run a half mile in less than 2 minutes.

Walt Davis- was totally paralyzed by polio was when he was 9 years old, through work and staying committed he went on to become the olympic world champion in the high jump in 1952

What about a dude name Woodrow Wilson- Couldn’t read until he was 10. Hard for him to be anything except manual labor. But as I hope most of you know, he went on to become the 28th president of the U.S.

Time and again we get put into situations or circumstances where it looks like we can easily have unbelief. But just like these men overcame their adversity, we also can overcome and conquer our unbelief. But it starts with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to help us to overcome our unbelief.

Mark 9:23–24 “And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””

It is okay to have times of unbelief, but we can not dwell in our unbelief. You have to fight for it, rely and depend on the Lord. Which takes us to the end of V. 53

Extra explanation of verse the end 53.

It shows the whole household believed.

Some try to use this verse to justify infant baptism. Well if the father of the household or the mother is a believer, then we can sprinkle or dunk the baby to have them believe also.

But sometimes we see this is in our church, we “believe” in Jesus at a young age. Then we follow the footsteps of parents or grandparents, or a friend.

Application

How does he conquer our unbelief?

Gives us the ability to put our full faith in Jesus. The official simply heard the words, believed in Jesus, then took a literal step of obedience to faithfully follow Jesus.

We are to do the same. It is in obedience. Our belief put into action is based on our obedience.

Do you believe that Jesus really lived a perfect life, that he died on the cross, that he was buried 3 days proving he was/is God/ rose 3 days later then showed himself to hundreds of people the nails in wrists and ankles. HE IS GOD. Do you believe, then have put your full faith in him?

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Authentic faith is more than head knowledge. It is the action of living a life that is fully devoted to Jesus and seeking after where and what he would have you to do.

Authentic faith is more than attendance on Wednesday night. It is also comes in Sunday morning to be with the whole congregation. And more community

Authentic faith is obedience dedicated to the Lord. Wherever and whatever he would have you do and go, you will do.

Authentic faith is sharing the gospel, inviting friends to church with no hesitation.

Authentic faith is being devoted to the Word, to prayer, to time with community to strenghthen your belief, and your obedienece.

Authentic faith is believing that the God of the universe can heal your addiction, your hurtful suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety,

Authentic faith is believing that the person you have been praying for for years actually does come to know the Lord

What if these things do not happen?

God is sovereign, he knows all, and has a plan

Will you believe the words of Jesus, and take your next step of obedience to trust Jesus in an authentic and real way tonight?

Pray

Small Group Questions

What is the difference between belief and faith?

Do you have any road blocks that stop you from believing fully in Jesus?

What step of faith do you need to take to submit to Jesus? take the cookies to the small group