Do You Believe?
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Introduction
True or False
True or False
Carm.org asked the following true or false questions
2+2=4 - True or False
The earth orbits around the sun - True or False
If A=B and B=C then A=C - True or False
Do we believe these things are true?
Do we believe the Bible is true?
Do we believe all of the Bible is true?
Do you believe what Jesus said is true?
John 4:46-56
Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.
This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
Let’s Pray
John 4:46-47
Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
We’ve all been here haven’t we.
We have had family members who have been close to death and we pray to God to heal them.
We have all hoped that we would see a miraculous healing
That’s what this official wanted - in the Greek it eludes to this official as being king like.
So he was bringing the authority of his position as a royal official in Capernaum to Cana asking Jesus, to heal his son.
John 4:48
John 4:48-
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
Look at what Jesus says - “Unless you people” - He wasn’t just talking to the official, he was talking to the people of Cana that had no doubt heard about the wedding where Jesus turned water into wine - what kind of miracles were they going to get to see during this visit to Cana?
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
So what will it take for us to believe?
Let’s take a look at some Research about American’s and Scripture
Pew Research - 2014 Survey of Americans
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/14/5-facts-on-how-americans-view-the-bible-and-other-religious-texts/
35% of American’s read their Holy Book at least once a week
Of those:
88% of Jehovah Witness’s read at least once a week
77% of Mormons
63% of Evangelicals
46% of Muslims
30% of Mainline Protestants
29% of Orthodox
25% of Catholic’s read the Bible at least once a week
17% of Jews
So what does this tell us - people in cults like Jehovah Witness’ and Mormon’s read their Bible more often than Evangelical Christians
Why do I call these cults
According to Watchtower of the Jehovah Witness - Jesus is also Satan. Look at this quote from Watchetower on CARM.org
https://carm.org/jesus-abaddon-and-apollyon-destroyer
"When Jesus was on earth as a man, he was a Hebrew, and now in his capacity as Jehovah's royal Executioner he is called by the Hebrew name Abad'don, which means Destruction. (; ; ; ; ) In the Greek in which the inspired Christian Scriptures were written his similar title is Apollyon, which means Destroyer," (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1961, p. 719).
Comment: Abaddon is the Hebrew word for the ruling angel in hell. Apollyon is the Greek equivalent. Is it Jesus? No. The New Topical Textbook lists Abaddon and Apollyon as names of Satan. The Bible Knowledge Commentary does the same.
Who do the Mormon’s say Jesus is?
Mormon’s believe that Jesus and Satan were brother’s.
Can we all agree that we don’t believe in the same Jesus as Mormon’s and Jehovah Witnesses
Jesus is not an angel in Hell
Jesus is not Satan’s brother
Yet the very people who believe this read their Holy Books more often than we do as Evangelical Christians.
More Pew Research
75% of Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God
In 2014 only 40% of American’s reported that reading their Bible was essential to their faith
So what do we do?
Are we like the people of Cana looking for the next miracle or sign?
John 4:48-50
John 4:
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
The official believed the word of God.
So let’s ask ourselves a question.
Do we believe the word of Jesus?
Do we believe the word of Jesus?
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Do you believe that Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save the world?
John 10:10
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Jesus came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly! Do you believe it?
Matthew 11:28-29
They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
“It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
Matthew 11:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
There are two types of tired.
Physically Tired
Soul is Tired
If you are physically tired, you can rest and recharge.
If your soul is tried, only in Jesus can you find rest for you soul.
Do you believe it?
John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Jesus wants your joy to be full.
Do you believe it?
Let’s get back to our story.
John 4:50-54
John
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.
This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
This is the 2nd of 7 miracles that John is going to describe in the first 12 chapters of his gospel!
Conclusion
John 4:53
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.
There is hope for entire households to come and believe in Jesus.
We saw it today with Richard’s family. Whole families have come to believe. It started with Kenny’s daughter Phynex. Which led to Kenny bringing his family to church and the whole family now believes.
Mindy invites her brother Richard to church, now his whole family believes.
Entire families have come to believe - just like the official’s household.
Gospel Message
Someone in here today needs to hear that Jesus loves them.
The He came and died for your sins.
The best part was that Jesus beat death.
When He rose from the grave he paid the way for us to have eternal life, for our sins to be forgiven.
The question is - do you believe this?
We are going to sing a song of invitation - and if you are ready to confess to the church that you believe - would you please come forward and tell us.
If you are ready to make Hillside your church home - would you come forward and tell us.
What a great day.
Let’s Pray