All Is Needed To Believe

Humility Opens Your Heart

Text: John 10:22-42

Introduction

We are stepping back into the narrative when Jesus has revealed who the “Door” and the “Good Shepherd” is to the Jewish people and ultimately the entire world.

(Verses 22-23) Historical Background — This was a feast instituted in honor of the restoration of divine worship in the temple, and its formal rededication to sacred uses after it had been defiled by the heathen under Antiochus Epiphanes. This dedication took place in 164 B.C., and an account of it is given in the apocryphal book 1 Maccabees 4:52–59. The feast lasted two days, and could be celebrated not only in Jerusalem, but elsewhere. In later times it was known by the name of the “Feast of Lamps,” or the “Feast of Lights,” because of the custom of illuminating the houses while celebrating it. The Jewish rabbis have a tradition that, when the Jews under Judas Maccabeus drove the heathen out of the temple and cleansed it from its pollution, they found a solitary bottle of sacred oil that had escaped the profane search of the heathen. This was all they had for lighting the sacred lamps, but by a miracle this was made to last eight days, and so this became the duration of the feast. This is the holiday referred to now as Hanukkah, an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of Kislev. Hebrew nukkâ, dedication, from nak, to dedicate. [The New Manners And Customs Of The Bible, James M. Freeman]

Q — Has there ever been a time the truth (whatever that was in the context of your life at that moment) was right in front of you, but because you were so brainwashed by false religion, pride, self-righteousness, a narcissistic attitude, that you could not see the forest for the trees?

The fact of the matter is this...the truth is always there for the understanding and application to one’s life! The real question is, “Do you want the truth?”

You see this charade happening all the time in many courtrooms across our nation and especially politics. Everyone seems to be fighting for the truth, but many are seeking self promotion of one’s opinion rather than repenting and believing what is right.

The worst thing you can do with your body, soul, and spirit is spend your life away acting as if you are always in the right and everyone else is wrong.

Luke 14:11 “11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

If you are going to recognize your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ, you must examine the evidence with humility.

If you are going to follow Jesus as the Master of your life, you must reckon His ways are #1 and do so with humility.

1) A Lack Of Humility Hardens The Heart To The Truth

A. A false interest buried in their religion

a) What were these Jewish leaders interested in?

It was their belief that the real Messiah would come with authority to expel the Romans and liberate the Jewish people.

This is exactly why Jesus did not come right out and say, “I am the Messiah.”

Q — How many times are we desiring more for God to repair or restore something tangible/temporal over that which is spiritual/eternal?

Examples: Remember back to the man at the pool of Siloam, the Samaritan woman at the well, the feeding of the 5,000, we will soon see this in the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

LISTEN...there is a difference in seeking God for help in every area of life and the only way you can live with joy and peace is if God fixes the physical condition.

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 “1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

These Jewish leaders were so fix aided in who they wanted the Messiah to be and accomplish, they missed the fact the REAL MESSIAH standing in from of them came to take away their guilt.

Illustration: Some of you need to peel away some layers that you have allowed the culture in order to see/hear Jesus more clearly. It is like peeling away the wrapping paper of a present to get to the gift.

B. Jesus responds to their frustration

a) Jesus’ words and works were enough

Heaven had already spoke a great deal through John the Baptist.

John 1:15–18 “15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

John 1:29 “29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 1:34 “34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus said enough about who He was

“I am the Living Water”

Samaritan woman — John 4:25–26 “25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

Samaritans believed — John 4:41–42 “41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Jesus summarized the evidence — (Turn to) John 5:31–47 “31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”

Feeding of the 5,000

“I am the Bread of Life”

Adulterous Woman

“I am the Light of the world”

Jesus challenged them to convict Him of even one sin!

“I am the Door”

“I am the Good Shepherd”

LISTEN…none of you can leave here today and say, “There just wasn’t enough said or explained for me to believe.”

LISTEN…not one person will be able to tell Jesus Christ on that judgement day, “You just didn’t give me enough evidence to believe.”

b) The real reason was them not being His sheep

Remember what was happening at this moment in redemptive history:

Followers of the Father were being given to the Son.

These leaders were religious, but they were not following the Father!

Could they have become followers? YES, YES, YES!

Notice verse 37-38

Jesus was laboring in the invitation to these “non-sheep” to believe Him.

Jesus was saying, “If you can’t believe on my words, at least believe on me for my works.”

Humility is a posture ANYONE can live in and Jesus is someone ANYONE can believe in!

If you walk away with unbelief in your heart, the blame can never be charged against God!

2) Humility Equips the Heart To Receive The Truth & Its Blessings

A. You must be willing to HEAR the Shepherd

to heed v. — to listen, hear, or pay close attention to, and usually respond in conformity.

They didn’t smell like a sheep in the least.

LISTEN...if you are one of God’s sheep, there will be evidence of you listening to His voice.

NOW...this doesn’t mean every sheep listens perfectly every time.

B. Jesus’ sheep are gifted a powerful eternal life

Similar to God’s power to preserve enough of oil for eight days, so does He by His GREAT POWER preserve our soul for eternity!

Notice both on what you read and what you don’t read!

What do verses 28-30 not say?

It DOES NOT say, “Jesus’ sheep are eternally secure because of their grip on God.”

It DOES NOT say, “Jesus’ sheep are divine and can keep their own soul.”

It DOES NOT say, “The sheep are equal with God.”

What do verses 28-30 say?

It DOES say, “The sheep are eternally secure in Christ.”

It DOES say, “The sheep are never at risk of being removed from the both the hands of Jesus and the Father.”

It DOES say, “Jesus and the Father are ONE.”

The Father is God; The Son is God; The Spirit is God.

Quote: “Believers are not eternally secure because of their grip on God but because of his grip on them. If you come to Jesus by faith, he’s got you. When you’re too weak and your hands go limp, he’ll still be hanging on.” (Tony Evans Study Bible)

3) Humility Will Gift You A Lasting Legacy

A. Jesus went back to the place where truth had been proclaimed

Illustration: Noise cancelling earbuds.

Have you ever thought about why Jesus went back to this spot?

There were some strong memories in that place.

This was NOT a moment when Jesus needed reassurance of who He was.

This was a moment when Jesus needed to separate Himself from the lies in order to bring those following him to a place where the truth was preached into their hearts.

LISTEN…let me encourage you, there are times you need to disconnect from all the noise, the imagery around you, the politics, and the junk on your social media, and GET ALONE WITH GOD’S TRUTH!!!

LISTEN…you are shaped by the books you read, the people you are around, the things you watch, and essentially everything YOU allow to touch your life.

LISEN…if you want to carve out the JUNK in your mind and life, you need to carve out more time for GOD!

Get your heart to an open Bible and read it!

Get your heart back in tune with praying!

Get yourself rooted in and committed to a local New Testament Church (preaches the Gospel of Jesus).

Light and darkness can’t live together!

B. A legacy never expires

a) There are those legacies that you only find in history books and museums

This is sometimes the fate of some churches who become complacent and never seek to be Spirit led, visional, and missional.

This is what happens when there is activity but no life in what you are doing.

Q — Are simply going to be a museum piece after you expire?

b) There are those legacies that continue to live on in the hearts and souls of people.

Q — Are you going to expire with a Living Legacy?

Notice verses 41-42

Let this encourage you to tell others about Jesus.

Romans 10:14–15 “14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Conclusion

Believer — The Lord has given you enough to get your priorities straight, take up your cross, and follow Him! It really comes down to who you value the most: Yourself or God?

Unbeliever — Enough has been said today and the Spirit has done a sufficient work for you to know that your sin has positioned you guilty before God and Jesus is able to reposition you to be forgiven! Repent and Believe!