Hear For Yourself

From Testimony to Transformation: The Power of Personal Faith

Bible Passage: John 4:41-42

John 4:41–42 ESV

And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

BIG IDEA:

Someone else can lead you to Jesus, but they cannot know Jesus for you.

INTRODUCTION

The story in John 4 begins with one woman meeting Jesus at a well.

She came looking for water………….But she left having found the Savior.

And when she went back to her village, she began telling everybody about Jesus.

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.”

And people listened to her……..They left the village………………..They came to Jesus.

But something important happened.

At first, they believed because of what she told them.

Then they listened to Jesus Himself.

And eventually they said: “Now we have heard for ourselves.”

That is the journey every Christian must make.

Someone may introduce you to Jesus.

Someone may teach you about Jesus.

Someone may bring you to church.

But eventually, you must know Jesus for yourself.

1. SAMARITANS SEEK AND SEE

John 4:41 ESV

And many more believed because of his word.

The woman pointed them toward Jesus.

But then they went to Jesus themselves.

They didn’t stay in the village talking about what the woman had experienced.

They went to see Jesus

That’s important.

Because somebody else’s testimony can make you curious about Jesus.

But eventually you have to seek Him yourself.

Think about life on Tanna.

Someone can tell you there is good water at a certain place.

They can describe it.

They can tell you where it is.

They can even tell you how good the water tastes.

But their description will never satisfy your thirst.

Eventually, you have to drink the water yourself.

It’s the same with Jesus.

Your pastor can tell you Jesus is good.

Your parents can tell you Jesus is faithful.

A missionary can tell you Jesus saves.

Your friend can tell you Jesus changed his life.

But eventually…You have to seek Him yourself.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jesus isn’t hiding from you

Open His Word.

Talk to Him in prayer.

Obey what He teaches.

Seek Him.

Secondhand stories can point you toward Jesus, but they cannot replace knowing Jesus.

2. BELIEVERS BEYOND BELIEF

John 4:42a

John 4:42 ESV

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe……..”

I love this statement.

They weren’t disrespecting the woman……..They were actually showing us that her testimony had accomplished its purpose.

She brought them to Jesus.

Now their faith belonged to them.

This is where Christianity must become personal.

There is a difference between saying:

“My family believes in Jesus” and “I believe in Jesus.”

There is a difference between:

“My pastor follows Jesus” and “I follow Jesus.”

There is a difference between:

“Our village is Christian” and “Jesus is my Lord.”

You can grow up around Christianity without personally following Christ.

You can know Christian songs.

You can know Bible stories.

You can attend church every Sunday.

You can even know how Christians are supposed to talk.

And still be living on somebody else’s faith.

God doesn’t want you to borrow somebody else’s faith. He wants you to personally trust His Son.

Because borrowed faith struggles when the storm comes.

When suffering comes…

When temptation comes…

When family pressure comes…

When following Jesus costs you something…

You need more than: “My pastor told me.”

You need: “I know whom I have believed.”

Your faith must become your own.

3. PERSONAL PROCLAMATION

John 4:42 ESV

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

“For we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Look at the progression.

First: The woman encountered Jesus.

Then: She told the village.

Then: The village came to Jesus.

Then: They heard Jesus for themselves.

Then: They knew who Jesus was.

That’s discipleship………..That’s evangelism.

And that’s how the gospel continues to spread today.

One person meets Jesus.

That person tells another person.

That person comes to Jesus.

Then they meet Him personally.

And then they tell somebody else.

Notice what the Samaritans said:

“WE KNOW…”

Not: “We heard…”

Not: “Someone told us…”

Not: “Maybe…”

“WE KNOW.”

And what did they know? “This is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Not only the Savior of the Jews……….Not only the Savior of Samaria.

The Savior of the world.

That means He is the Savior for Tanna too.

For every village.

Every tribe.

Every family.

Every generation.

Every person.

Jesus didn’t save you just so your story could end with you.

Someone needs to hear what Jesus has done in your life.

You don’t need to know the whole Bible before you tell someone about Jesus.

The Samaritan woman certainly didn’t…..

She simply said: “Come and see”…………… and Jesus did the rest.

CONCLUSION — FROM THEIR FAITH TO YOUR FAITH

Maybe someone brought you to Jesus.

Thank God for them.

Maybe it was your mother.

Your father.

Your pastor.

A missionary.

A friend.

A husband or wife.

Thank God for every person who pointed you toward Christ.

But eventually you must move from: “They told me…” to “I know.”

You must hear for yourself.

You must believe for yourself.

You must repent for yourself.

You must trust Jesus for yourself.

And then you must be willing to tell someone else.

The Christian life should have this simple movement:

COME AND SEE……………….Seek Jesus for yourself.

HEAR AND BELIEVE…………..Know Jesus for yourself.

GO AND TELL………………….Point someone else toward Jesus.

INVITATION

Maybe today you realize:

“I know about Jesus, but I’m not sure I personally know Jesus.”

Today can be the day that changes.

Jesus already knows everything about you.

Remember the woman at the well.

Jesus knew her past.

He knew her sin.

He knew her shame.

And He still offered her living water.

The same Jesus offers salvation to you.

He went to the cross for your sin.

He died in your place.

He rose from the grave.

And today He invites you to trust Him.

Don’t leave saying…………“My pastor believes.”

Don’t leave saying…………“My family believes.”

Don’t leave saying………….“Our church believes.”

Leave able to say…………….I have heard for myself.

Leave able to say…………….I believe for myself.

Leave able to say…………….I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

FINAL CHALLENGE

This week:

Seek Him.

Open your Bible and hear His Word.

Know Him.

Spend time with Jesus personally.

Tell someone.

Share what Jesus has done for you.

Because someone else’s testimony may introduce you to Jesus…

But Jesus wants you to know Him for yourself.