A Second Sign
Notes
Transcript
Our expectations of God matter.
Our expectations of God matter.
What do you expect of God? When has God disappointed you? Unmet expectations is a great source of pain, grief, and fighting within relationships.
God is active in His world.
God is active in His world.
This world is not “ours”; at least not in the truest sense. We are to be stewards of this world in such a way that reveals we realize God is the rightful owner.
Welcoming Jesus does not equal accepting Jesus.
Welcoming Jesus does not equal accepting Jesus.
Notice in our text how this point is made. Much ink spilled on what is meant by the words of verse 44-45. Yet, the point I think is clear: we can “like” Jesus and even welcome him but that does not mean we trust Him.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?
We must go deeper than just the “benefits” of following Jesus.
We must go deeper than just the “benefits” of following Jesus.
There may very well be coming a time when following Jesus is harder than it is today. I think we are, and I believe this is a good thing, past the time when being a “Christian” was normal, easy and beneficial.
We must be persistent and persevere.
We must be persistent and persevere.
The royal official, who may have been a Gentile we don’t know, did not just ask once and go away when Jesus gives the rebuke. Unless it is clearly “no” we must continue to be persistent. Unless Scripture clearly says don’t do that we must persevere in prayer.
Jesus says, “go, he lives.”
Jesus says, “go, he lives.”
I know the translations typically say, he will live, and I understand why it says that. However, the truth is that because of Jesus’ words he is alive right now and will stay alive. This illness will not be the end of him. The same is true of anyone who comes to know Jesus. We live.
We live now not just in heaven.
We live now not just in heaven.
This is why we cannot shortchange the Gospel to be about “one day when we get to heaven”. We must realize that faith in Jesus creates live right now!
The man believed Jesus.
The man believed Jesus.
Interesting the space between Cana and Capernaum was only about 20 miles. He could have got there quickly but the urgency was not there because he knew Jesus spoke truth.
Experience with Jesus is contagious.
Experience with Jesus is contagious.
The whole household believes in Jesus.
Trust Jesus!
Trust Jesus!
Be like the royal official.
Go do what Jesus says!
Go do what Jesus says!
Believe in Jesus is always active and will result in living differently “now”.
