ELEMENTS OF A CONTAGIOUS FAITH John 4 43

ELEMENTS OF A CONTAGIOUS FAITH John 4: 43 -54

John stated the purpose of his book • 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. --Jn 20: 30 -31

Each of us has a ‘world view’ that influences our actions • What we believe is determined by our conclusions based on what we know. • What we believe then influences what we say, do and value.

The Bible is given us to ‘center’ our world view in a God who is Holy, Infinite & Spirit Believing in the God of the Bible involves trusting Him enough to take His advice about what to do and what not to do to live well. • But a serious distrust has been infused into humanity. We have a distorted view of God, mistaken notions of what is right and good.

Part of the work that Jesus came to do was to reveal… • the Father as One who is trustworthy; • as essential to Joy and, • even to life itself believe God has come in the flesh

3 questions are answered in this passage • What’s the basis by which to believe that Jesus is God? • What would we do if we believed that Jesus is God? • What affect would our believing in Him have on others?

Verse 46 invites us to compare two miracles that Jesus did in Cana • John tells us that both of these signify who Jesus is. • In each there is a problem, a choice as to whether to trust, and a marvelous result.

First OUR BELIEFS ARE BASED ON OUR CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of facts + perspective + choice = Beliefs

Believing/trusting is ultimately a choice • Sometimes we review the facts and study the reliability. • Sometimes we simply take the word of someone we trust. • Sometimes we just ignore the facts and believe something because we really want it to be that way.

These stories picture people and an event where the choice was made to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. At the wedding feast in Cana, the beverage is exhausted and the problem is brought to Jesus for help. • First Jesus’ mother puts her trust in him completely. • Secondly the servants obediently do as they are God has really come In the person of Jesus told - a level of trust.

Later, also at Cana, a royal official came to Jesus requesting help • Jesus seems to speak a rebuke for unbelief unless God does something for them. • The nobleman is undeterred and insists on urgent help. • He clearly chose to believe Jesus’ spoken word, “You may go. Your son will live. ” v 50 God had really come In the person of Jesus

I can’t help but ask: ‘Would you and I believe at least that well’? • When life has run out of joy, do I go to Jesus? • When I have a need that I can’t solve, do I go to Jesus? • Do I readily do what He asks me to do? • When I have a crisis, do I go to Jesus for help? • When he assures me that all will be well, do I trust Him?

d n o c Se OUR ACTIONS ARE INFLUENCED BY OUR BELIEFS Opportunity/option + beliefs = action Many of our words, actions and values are the result of our beliefs

In the twin stories before us, the individuals acted according to their beliefs • Mary, Jesus’ mother, was • The nobleman must told some odd things by an have heard about Jesus. Here we are told that he angel before Jesus’ birth, “heard that Jesus had saw and heard some odd arrived in Galilee from things after he was born. Judea” - v 47. She also had the memory of the Temple experience – Surely that information was only a part of other when Jesus was 12. She knowledge about Jesus had evidence to go on. • He acted on his faith • She acted on her faith Do we take our problem to Jesus first Do we rest in His assurance

Third IF WHAT WE DO HAS A POSITIVE OUTCOME, OTHERS WILL ALSO BELIEVE [] Pastor sharing about skeptics taking olive oil, then confessing it works. Psalm 109: 18

Of the miracle at the wedding, we read: • He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him - 2: 11 – It was more than the flavor of the Koolaid – Something convinced them that this was the Messiah. God had really come In the person of Jesus

Of the nobleman we read: • he and all his household believed - 4: 53. – It wasn’t just that the boy got well. – They knew Jesus had done a miracle. God had really come In the person of Jesus

In each case the event moves from anxiety to joy • The visible result combined with the certainty about who Jesus is… • Provides the occasion for others to believe. God had really come In the person of Jesus

So… If we really believe that in Jesus God has come to us…. With all His infinite power and resources And that He loves us deeply And that He delights in helping us Why wouldn’t we trust Him?

We have enough evidence to believe confidently Life has enough problems to provide opportunity When we confidently act on our faith and good results… We will live well – Life to the Full Our contagious faith will inspire others to believe