John 9v1to7 God prepares the way
I) When we walk with God, He prepares the way. John 9:1-7
A) File: John 9v1to7 God prepares the way.doc
B) Audio: When we walk with God, He prepares the way.
C) Series: Walking with God
D) Preached: February 11, 2007
II) Intro to the series: Walking with God
A) We can still walk with God by following Jesus.
B) First: It’s all about the Father’s Business.
C) Last time: When we walk with God, we must follow.
III) READ John 9:1-7
A) Only part of this story – many lessons.
1)
B) But we are examining what it means to walk with God – as travelers through life.
IV) When we walk with God, we will work His works.
A) Jesus says here that we MUST, that is a divine necessity, to work the works of the Father.
B) 1 Cor. 5:15 “and He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Our purpose.
C) Also our food John 4:34 “My food is to the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His works.”
D) So Jesus, as always, sets the exmple
V) When we walk with God, we will see His power.
A) Stand in awe and wonder at the stories of the gospels – try to imagine what it was like.
B) Still what we should expect today. – The power was passed on
1) Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
2) Acts 2:17-18, “visions, prophecy, dreams” pouring out His Spirit on all flesh.
VI) Main point – When we walk with God, He prepares the way.
VII) God prepared the way for Jesus
A) Disciples ask, v 2, “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
1) Jesus reply, “that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
2) Then Jesus heals him
3) The neighbors hear about it, the Pharisees, his parents – the healing of his eyes was put on display for everyone to see.
4) Jesus said it would be so, and it was.
B) Therefore, according to Jesus’ answer and the rest of the story – God had this man to be born blind for this very purpose.
1) Reading the gospels, we get the impression that everything Jesus does is some kind of divine appointment.
2) Samaria – the well.
3) Great example: Luke 8:40-56
C) John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way
1) A righteous man to testify to the identity of Jesus.
D) Fullness of time:
1) Gal. 4:4, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”
2) Eph 1:10 “a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him.”
3) It carries the idea of a great juxtaposition – at just the right time.
4) Roman peace, greek language, philosophy, roman roads, world travel and trade.
5) Israel’s exile over – many coming to Jerusalem
E) God prepared the way for Jesus – and also for Jesus’ disciples.
VIII) God prepared the way for Jesus’ disciples.
A) Rabbi – a teaching moment for the disciples. Learned many important lessons.
1) The purpose of suffering – a better answer than even Job received.
2) About God’s will and sovereignty. Romans 8:28, pp, “And we know that all things work for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
3) John 6:70, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil?”
B) If you have heard other sermons in this series, we have learned that we follow just as disciple did.
1) So we know that if God prepared the way for Jesus’ disciples, then we know He prepares the way for US.
IX) God prepares the way for us
A) Ephesians 1:3-6 – He prepared the way for our salvation
1) How often our testimonies of salvation show that God was at work – someone was praying for us, we were wondering, someone invited us – He prepared for our salvation before the foundations of the world!
2) Not only for our salvation, but what we would do with that salvation:
B) Ephesians 2:10: Good works prepared before the foundation of the world; like sharing the gospel with someone whom God has prepared to be saved.
C) Back to Romans – after 8:28, comes 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers,”
1) God is preparing the way for us to be conformed to the image of his son – even walking into a situation, seeing God’s preparation as in this blind man, and using God’s power to have His work displayed. God prepares the way for us to imitate His son!
X) Examples:
A) Murrays – village praying for oil
B) Praying for a sign about ministry transition – downsized. It didn’t make any worldly sense.
C) Another great biblical example: Joshua – Rahab / Jericho
XI) What it means to us:
A) An encouragement – It builds faith to see God at work
1) God ‘proving’ Himself to us.
B) But – we can only witness it if we are walking with Him.
1) It’s all about the Father’s business
2) We must follow
3) Application for the Christian: Therefore, exhortation to follow, to be with him.
XII) Application for non-Christian: God prepared the way for the Pharisees
A) Jesus knew this man would end up before the Pharisees.
1) He knew their legalistic, hardened hearts would not believe because it didn’t fit THEIR religion.
2) Their whole argument is based on their own flawed interpretation of God’s law concerning the Sabbath.
3) The man points out – no record since the beginning of time of a man being born blind healed – his argument. Would concur with Isaiah who predicted it – another way God prepared the way.
4) He is still preparing the way today for those who will reject Him. 1 Thess – a deluding influence. Removing the restrainer.
B) As for you:
1) The Word of God has attested to this – the Word a sign unto itself.
2) This church and these believers a sign unto themselves:
3) The feeling you get as the Word of God confronts your sin – God’s Holy Spirit testifying to you.
(a) If you explain it away – as guilty as these Pharisees.
(b) If you try to convince yourself that you are okay because of some prayer you prayed or baptism or church membership but you have not REALLY known God – Woe to you!
4) He is still preparing the way – if you sense He is preparing the way for you – do not let this day end without responding to His invitation.
XIII) Songs:
A) ‘tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
1) ‘Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!’
B) Trust and Obey
February 18, 2007
Sermon Series: Walking with God. Learning what it means to walk with God by walking with Jesus through His ministry.
Today’s Message:
When we walk with God, we will witness division. Matthew 10:34-11:1
When we walk with God …
A) We will change ___________________.
B) We will create ____________________.
C) We will find _________________.
D) We will serve ______________ _________________.
E) We will receive ____________________.[1]
If we do not walk with God…
- We will _______________ ________________.[2]
Application
What side am I on, anyway? What am I holding above Jesus? Bad Habits? Good Habits? Comfort? Family?
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[1] A) families; B) enemies; C) life; D) God’s people; E) rewards;
[2] 1) lose life;