How Does Someone Believe?

How Does Someone Believe?

Welcome, thank you Pastor Tony for the privilege. 45th wedding anniversary.

Short testimony of God’s grace.

, “…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name…

Believe 98 times in John

He is the Christ

By believing you may have life

– Wedding at Cana

– Nicodemus – the religious

– Woman at the well – the immoral

– TODAY – The Man Born Blind – the unable

The Importance of Faith: , “A man who remains stiffnecked, after many rebukes, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy…”

ILLUSTRATION: Tight rope walker –

The background

· …As he passed by… – The sovereignty of God – Woman at the well, Jesus left Judea and walked 20 miles, average 3.1 miles an hour to get there by noon.

· The physical to lead to the spiritual - Physical blindness to get to spiritual blindness – God has a purpose

· Blind since birth – first miracle on a person with a congenital illness

· The man is of age, lived his life up to now so God will reveal himself to the blind man.

· Some will believe some won’t – straight is the way and narrow, few, wide is the road and broad, many

· Neighbors don’t see him, don’t recognize him

· His family throws him under the bus, why is he a beggar with a family

· Pharisees reject the miracle, they are more concerned about the law

I. Believing Requires Divine Initiative

· Jesus Found Him

· Physical blindness is a metaphor for spiritual blindness

· …the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous…

· - He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

· Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost…

· …no man seeks after God…

· …You have not chosen me, I have chosen you…

· …the son of man has come to save that which is lost…

· …you were dead in your trespasses and sin… - Dead men don’t seek after anything

II. Believing Responds With Faith

· Faith / Believe = 98 Times

· Progressive Belief

1. The “man” called Jesus (9:11)

2. Jesus to be “a prophet” (9:17)

3. “from God” (9:33)

4. “Son of Man” (9:35).

· Holy Spirit enables us to believe

· Kurios – Sir

· Kurios – Lord

·

Note: The progressive nature of belief is evidenced in , “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” The first step of belief is seen in the words “believe that he exists.” This second stage of faith is reflected in the words of , “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

III. Believing Recognizes “Christ” 9:37 …you have both seen him and he is the one who is speaking with you…

· …Jesus is the Christ…

· …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

· …The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

·

IV. Believing Results in True Worship

· Believing is a response to God and His word

· We become worshippers

· – God is looking for worshippers who worship in Spirit and Truth

· Tozer, God wants us to be worshippers first and workers second.

Conclusion: The parachute and the pack on airplane