Faith: The Key to Spiritual Transformation and Healing
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound encounter between Nicodemus, a Pharisee, and Jesus, as recorded in John 3:9-15. Nicodemus, a man of the law, sought understanding of how to attain eternal life. Jesus, in His wisdom, shifted Nicodemus' paradigm by emphasizing that entry into the Kingdom of God is not through self-improvement or adherence to the law, but through being "born again." This rebirth is a spiritual transformation that requires faith, not sight. Jesus invites us to believe in Him, to trust in His divine nature as the Son of Man, and to embrace a life of faith that transcends earthly understanding.
In our culture, we are often obsessed with capturing moments through photographs, believing that seeing is believing. However, Jesus challenges this notion by teaching that true belief comes first, and through faith, we see the reality of God's promises. This is a call to live by faith, not by sight, and to trust in the unseen work of God in our lives.
The story of the Israelites in the wilderness serves as a powerful metaphor for our journey of faith. Despite the challenges and the temptation to return to the familiar, God calls us to trust Him, even when the path seems uncertain. The Israelites' journey was prolonged due to their unbelief, not the giants they feared. Similarly, our own unbelief can delay the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives.
Jesus' reference to Moses lifting the bronze snake in the wilderness is a foreshadowing of His own crucifixion. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the bronze snake, we are called to look to Jesus on the cross for our healing and salvation. This act of faith is the antidote to the venom of sin that infects us all.
Ultimately, the message is clear: faith is the key to transformation. It is not about self-improvement or achieving perfection, but about trusting in Jesus, who became sin for us so that we might be redeemed. As we enter 2025, let us embrace this call to faith, believing in the promises of God and trusting in His timing and provision.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith Over Sight: Jesus teaches that true belief comes from faith, not from what we can see. This challenges the cultural norm of "seeing is believing" and invites us to trust in God's promises even when they are not visible. Faith is the lens through which we see God's provision and recognize His hand in our lives. [01:09:03]
2. Transformation Through Faith: The encounter with Nicodemus highlights that spiritual rebirth is necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. This transformation is not about self-improvement but about becoming a new creation in Christ. It requires dying to our old selves and being resurrected with Jesus. [01:13:29]
3. The Wilderness as a Place of Growth: The Israelites' journey through the wilderness teaches us that waiting on God is not easy, but it is where He refines and prepares us for His promises. The wilderness is not the end but a place of transformation and growth in faith. [01:18:45]
4. The Power of Belief: Jesus' reference to the bronze snake lifted by Moses is a powerful illustration of faith. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the snake, we are called to look to Jesus on the cross for our healing and salvation. Faith in Jesus is the antidote to the sin that infects us. [01:23:23]
5. Faith as the Cure: Faith is the key to overcoming the challenges and fears in our lives. It is the antidote to the venom of sin and the path to true freedom. By believing in Jesus, we are set free from sin and begin a journey of growth and transformation guided by His Word and Spirit. [01:37:56]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:09] - Introduction to Nicodemus
- [01:13] - The Necessity of Being Born Again
- [01:18] - Faith Over Sight
- [01:23] - The Wilderness Journey
- [01:29] - The Bronze Snake and the Cross
- [01:33] - Transformation Through Faith
- [01:37] - The Power of Belief
- [01:41] - Faith as the Cure
- [01:45] - The Call to Believe
- [01:49] - Invitation to Faith
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 3:9-15
2. Numbers 21:4-9
3. Hebrews 11:1
---
Observation Questions:
1. What question does Nicodemus ask Jesus in John 3:9, and how does Jesus respond to his lack of understanding? [01:09:03]
2. In the story from Numbers 21:4-9, what was the Israelites' reaction to their situation in the wilderness, and how did God respond to their complaints? [01:13:29]
3. How does the sermon describe the cultural obsession with photographs, and what does it suggest about the relationship between seeing and believing? [01:09:03]
4. What metaphor does Jesus use to explain the necessity of faith in John 3:14-15, and how does it relate to the story of the bronze snake? [01:37:56]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus challenge the idea of self-improvement as a means to enter the Kingdom of God? What does it mean to be "born again"? [01:09:03]
2. In what ways does the story of the Israelites in the wilderness serve as a metaphor for the journey of faith? How does unbelief affect their journey? [01:18:45]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of "faith over sight," and what implications does this have for how believers perceive God's promises? [01:09:03]
4. What is the significance of Jesus being referred to as the "Son of Man," and how does this title relate to His mission and identity? [01:37:56]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you relied on sight rather than faith. How did that impact your trust in God's promises? What steps can you take to strengthen your faith in unseen things? [01:09:03]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be seeking self-improvement rather than spiritual transformation. How can you shift your focus to being "born again" in those areas? [01:09:03]
3. The Israelites' journey was prolonged due to unbelief. Identify a promise of God that you feel is delayed in your life. How might unbelief be contributing to this delay, and what can you do to address it? [01:18:45]
4. How can you apply the lesson of "faith over sight" in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or uncertainties? What practical steps can you take to live by faith? [01:09:03]
5. Think about a situation where you are currently in a "wilderness" season. How can you trust in God's timing and provision during this time? What does waiting on God look like for you? [01:24:09]
6. Reflect on the metaphor of the bronze snake and the cross. How can you "look to Jesus" in your current struggles or areas of sin? What does this act of faith look like in practice? [01:37:56]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to activate your faith. What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate your trust in God's promises? [01:46:31]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as the Lens of Belief
True belief is not rooted in what we can see but in faith that transcends our earthly understanding. In a world where seeing is often equated with believing, Jesus challenges us to trust in the unseen promises of God. This faith allows us to perceive God's provision and recognize His work in our lives, even when it is not immediately visible. By shifting our focus from the tangible to the spiritual, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with God, one that is built on trust and hope. [01:09:03]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life are you relying too heavily on what you can see? How can you begin to trust God more in this area today?
Day 2: Spiritual Rebirth and Transformation
The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus highlights the necessity of spiritual rebirth to enter the Kingdom of God. This transformation is not about self-improvement or adhering to the law but about becoming a new creation in Christ. It requires us to die to our old selves and be resurrected with Jesus, embracing a life of faith that transcends earthly understanding. This rebirth is a profound spiritual transformation that invites us to trust in Jesus' divine nature and embrace a life of faith. [01:13:29]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What old habits or mindsets do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ?
Day 3: Growth in the Wilderness
The Israelites' journey through the wilderness serves as a powerful metaphor for our journey of faith. Despite the challenges and the temptation to return to the familiar, God calls us to trust Him, even when the path seems uncertain. The wilderness is not the end but a place of transformation and growth in faith. It is where God refines and prepares us for His promises, teaching us to rely on Him and trust in His timing. [01:18:45]
"And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not." (Deuteronomy 8:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the current "wilderness" season in your life as an opportunity for growth and transformation?
Day 4: The Healing Power of Belief
Jesus' reference to the bronze snake lifted by Moses is a powerful illustration of faith. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the snake, we are called to look to Jesus on the cross for our healing and salvation. This act of faith is the antidote to the venom of sin that infects us all. By believing in Jesus, we are set free from sin and begin a journey of growth and transformation guided by His Word and Spirit. [01:23:23]
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to look to Jesus for healing and salvation today?
Day 5: Faith as the Cure for Sin
Faith is the key to overcoming the challenges and fears in our lives. It is the antidote to the venom of sin and the path to true freedom. By believing in Jesus, we are set free from sin and begin a journey of growth and transformation guided by His Word and Spirit. This faith empowers us to live a life that is not bound by fear or doubt but is rooted in the promises of God. [01:37:56]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: What fear or challenge are you facing today that you need to surrender to Jesus, trusting in His power to set you free?
Quotes
And here jesus is bringing his testimony with authority see saying you may have not have seen it but we father son holy spirit you may not have heard it but we have heard it father son holy spirit and when jesus refers himself to the son of man i want you to understand this is a profound title when he says son of man this is spirit superhero talk jesus is declaring his identity he's a mission think of it like hearing about aquaman or batman or superman but unlike these fictional heroes this carries a prophetic weight jesus is referring to himself as the son of man 83 times you see this in scripture and it's fulfilling a prophetic declaration you find in the books of ezekiel and daniel and this dot this title reflects the duality of his nature he is fully god sent from above but fully man born of a virgin and jesus's mission is to seek and save the lost and as he comes to nicodemus he's explaining to him that salvation comes by grace through faith tell your neighbor you got to believe it to see it. [01:07:15] (87 seconds)
And the Israelites set out into the wilderness and they go into heading towards a divine destination God had prepared for them. And I want to be clear, God, if you're in a wilderness and you don't know where you're going, tell your neighbor, God has a divine destination for you. He's got a promised land. And when they get to the edge of this promised land, the Bible tells us that Moses, sent 12 spies to scout it out. And the land had everything they hoped for, milk and honey. And it was amazing. Actually, the Bible tells us they came back with grapes. Two guys were carrying them on a pole. It was fat, like P -H -A -T, fat. It was fat. It was everything they hoped for and more. But 10 of the 12 spies came back with a fearful report. They're giants in the lands, they said. And we look like grasshoppers compared to them. And what's amazing, as you read the story, these spies never spoke to the giants. It's what they assumed of themselves. They were projecting their fear and insecurities. [01:15:40] (67 seconds)
And of those 12 spies mentioned, I've read this Bible so many times last year, I read them four times. I've read them four times. I've read them four times. I've read them four and a half times I read this word. I don't know those 10 spies' names. Their names don't stand out because we don't remember the names of those who live in fear. We remember those that stand in faith and believe. Why? Because faith overcomes fear. When we live a life of fear, we don't leave a legacy. We live a giant gaping hole. But there are two men whose names we know who had faith over them. And they're the ones who are the ones who are the ones who are the ones who are the ones who are the ones who are the ones who over fear. We know their names so well that I named my son after one of them, Joshua, and pastors Chris and Kelly named their son after the other, Caleb. And these men saw the challenges. [01:17:01] (49 seconds)
They saw the exact same challenges the 10 spies did. They saw the giants. They saw the obstacles. But instead of letting those dictate their response, they declared, yes, the land is flowing with milk and honey. Yes, there are giants. But yes, we serve a God who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one whose promises are bigger than any giant in my life. And if he said it's ours, it is ours in Jesus's name. Tell your neighbor, faith doesn't deny the facts. Faith agrees with the truth of God's word. The fact is life, your life will be full of challenges. The fact is giants will appear along the way. But I serve a God who, if he promised something in your life, faith says, I'm going to move forward. I'm going to believe that his promises are greater than any obstacle in my life. Give Jesus all the praise. [01:17:42] (63 seconds)
And there's some people here, you're waiting on God in different areas of your life. Maybe it's in relationships. Some of you here are single, and you committed to a life of purity, of abstaining. You said, I'm not going to have any sex. Until God get married. And what happens? All the cute ones start showing up. And not only do they start showing up, they start wanting to hang out with you. They're blowing your phone up. What you doing tonight? Want to go out? Let's not go to Wednesday night at Shiloh. Let's go out Wednesday night, just you and me in our sports utility vehicle. How did Melinda and I do it, dating? We hung out with people all the time. Because it's dangerous. Tell your neighbor, you play with fire, you'll get burned. Don't get quiet on me now. But then in that wilderness, everybody around you, all your friends, aren't waiting. Culture doesn't value purity. And it feels like as you're in this season of purity and abstinence, it feels like you're in an isolated wilderness. And in those minutes and moments, the enemy comes and whispers a lie. He says, you need it. Well, let me tell you, I've never heard anybody say, hey, did you hear about Tom? He went six months without sex, dead. He's dead. He's dead. [01:24:17] (89 seconds)
And Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions, and Jesus told him painfully, it's not about more knowledge and evidence. We have more knowledge in this world than we could ever fill our lives with. More information, more data, more everywhere, everything. We got information being created for us, not even by people. We got AI. And the truth is we don't need more information to change our lives. We need faith. We need to believe in Jesus. The world says, I got to see it to believe it. But Jesus flips the script and says, you have to believe it to see it. Faith doesn't eliminate every problem, but it solves our biggest problem. Faith, belief in Jesus. Listen to me, because I believe there's some people here struggling. You're reeling in the pain of this. It gets the poison out. [01:45:59] (65 seconds)
It removes the sin that separates us from God, that separates us from his best. It brings healing to our soul that we so desperately need. And once God sets us free from sin, he begins that process of sanctification, that journey of growth and healing and transformation. His word guides us. His Holy Spirit leads us. And it all starts. With faith. It's not about a bronze snake on a pole. It was always about the God behind the plan. Shiloh, the same God who told Israelites to trust him in the wilderness, is calling you today. can I bring you back? He's asking you, can I bring you back to what I designed you for, what I restored you for? Can I lead you to the promised land that I prepared you? God has a hope and a future and a destiny for your life, but it's gonna require you to believe. Do you believe? You may be going through the wilderness, but he will get there. He will get you there if you believe. Do you believe that? [01:47:35] (78 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?