Today’s Message: What do you believe

Key scripture

John 3:16–18 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

A bad case of spiritual blindness

John 3:9–15 ESV

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

- A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor - Proverbs 28:16.

- Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Pr 4:7

There’s just something about Jesus

John 2:23 ESV

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

Do you have a high headiness of heart - Acts 17:11 “ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Are you Curious and wanted to learn more - Isaiah 43:19 “ Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Do you have an Openness to change from the information you recieve .

Paul says Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect - Romans 12:2

Peter says

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance - 1 Peter 1:14

John says

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him - 1 John 2:15–17

What have you believed

John 3:16–18 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

What is your perception of God and who He loves - God loved the world, not because of anything they did or could do for themselves.

1. God loved the world? ….no chance

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine - Exodus 19:5 - GOD ONLY LOVES THE JEWS

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Story of the Pharisee praying. - justification by works VS spirit and truth

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. - Gal 2:16

so yes God loved the world…..

2. That He gave his only Begotten son

Do you recognise the promises of God when they start to manifest and show up in your life. - Christ had been promised to the Jewish people way before they lived

John 3:1–2

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

so yes Jesus is letting him know that he has arrived…

That whoever believes in him shall no perish but have everlasting life

Do you recognise God sovereignty in your life - Break away from things that keep you in a place where you choose to disbelieve what is clear

Death - Consequence of non belief

Genesis 3:16–18

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is .... Gen 3:17

Numbers 14:21–23 (ESV)

21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.

The ones who didnt believe what God had decreed, died, they were condemned to die in the wilderness, without seeing the fulfilment of what they had hoped for the whole time

John 3:18 ESV

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

After this Jesus taught his followers, He performed many more signs and the disciples grew in understanding of who He was ,he performs even more miracles in John 4,5, feeds multitudes, walks on water, he does a lot, and greater lessons were taught to them, so they Believed. He also teaching them how to be in order to be true followers, then he taught themabout their identity in him as well as the mark of a believer in John 13-16

Defining a follower/believer/disciple: who is a believer

John 13:34–35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul says

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Cor 13:13

How do we show love

James 2:17–18 “17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Praying with your neighbor

Encouragement and admonition in love

Feeding those who are in need

Helping with shopping and gifting

Helping a stranger in a time of need

The lady at the bus stop,

Teaching your household and children to be the same

Nyasha at Ben’s house

Paul writes

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. - 2 Co 5:20.

Jesus’ ministry in a nutshell was , feeding the hungry, healing the sick, attending to the poor, healing theirs souls by giving them the truth

The Lord goes before us

John 17:12–26 (ESV)

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Incoming Believer

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

We have been given the glory of Christ

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Call to salvation