Faith's Journey: Trusting Jesus Beyond Circumstances

 

Summary

In this sermon, Pastor Viv explores the theme of faith and its progression, using the story of a royal official from Capernaum whose son was ill. The official's journey to Jesus, despite the distance and lack of transportation, represents the beginning of faith, where one hears about Jesus and senses that there is something he can offer. This is a reasonable and thought-through decision to seek Jesus. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing the progression of faith and encourages the congregation to reflect on their own journey of faith. By understanding these stages, individuals can deepen their faith and experience the transformative power of Jesus in their lives.

The sermon also highlights the authoritative power of Jesus' word. Jesus didn't need to perform any extravagant actions or go to the man's house; His word alone was enough to bring about healing. This demonstrates Jesus' supreme authority over sickness, time, and geography. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust in the promises of God, emphasizing that what God says will come to pass because He stands outside of time and geography.

Pastor Viv also focuses on the man's faith and the implications it has. Despite being 20 miles away from home, the man didn't rush back immediately after Jesus spoke the word of healing. Instead, he believed Jesus' word and waited until the next day to return home. This shows the man's faith in Jesus and his trust in His word. The pastor emphasizes that faith in Jesus settles our hearts and transforms us, removing anxiety and bringing calmness.

The sermon also reflects on the way Jesus responds to people in need. Jesus does not get caught up in our circumstances but stands above them, using them in ways that we may not expect. Jesus works in every situation, providing what we truly need even when we are too anxious or focused on something else to realize it. The pastor shares a personal story about their daughter's discipleship year in South Africa, initially being upset with God for not following their plans, but eventually surrendering and realizing that God knows what He is doing.

Finally, the sermon discusses the importance of true faith in Jesus. The pastor uses the example of an official who fully trusted in Jesus's word that his son would live. The official's faith grew from a place of reasonableness to a deep trust in Jesus, taking Him at His word. The pastor emphasizes that true faith goes beyond trusting what Jesus can do and instead focuses on trusting His character and word. This kind of faith settles our hearts in Jesus and transforms us.

Key Takeaways:

- The journey of faith begins with a reasonable and thought-through decision to seek Jesus. This initial stage of faith is characterized by hearing about Jesus and sensing that there is something He can offer. Recognizing this progression of faith can help individuals deepen their faith and experience the transformative power of Jesus in their lives. ([12:45])

- Jesus' word alone has the power to bring about healing, demonstrating His supreme authority over sickness, time, and geography. Trusting in the promises of God means believing that what God says will come to pass because He stands outside of time and geography. ([22:30])

- Faith in Jesus settles our hearts and transforms us. Even when faced with anxieties and uncertainties, trusting in Jesus brings calmness and peace. This is illustrated by the royal official who, despite being far from home, believed Jesus' word and waited until the next day to return home. ([32:15])

- Jesus responds to people in need by standing above their circumstances and using them in unexpected ways. He provides what we truly need, even when we are too anxious or focused on something else to realize it. This is a call to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when His ways do not align with our plans. ([41:50])

- True faith in Jesus goes beyond trusting what He can do and instead focuses on trusting His character and word. This kind of faith, which grows from a place of reasonableness to a deep trust in Jesus, settles our hearts in Him and transforms us. ([51:25])

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 2:1-11: This passage describes the first miracle of Jesus, where he turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana. This is the first sign that points towards Jesus's ministry.
2. John 4:43-54: This passage tells the story of a royal official whose son is healed by Jesus. This is referred to as the second sign in John's presentation of Jesus.
3. John 20:30-31: This passage is the reason John wrote his gospel - so that people may believe in Jesus and have life in his name. This is the purpose of the book of John and the goal of faith.

Observation Questions:
1. What are the similarities and differences between the first and second signs performed by Jesus in John 2:1-11 and John 4:43-54?
2. How does the reaction of the people present at the miracles compare in these two passages?
3. In John 20:30-31, what is the stated purpose of John's gospel and how does it relate to the signs performed by Jesus?

Interpretation Questions:
1. What do the signs performed by Jesus in John 2:1-11 and John 4:43-54 reveal about his character and mission?
2. How does the healing of the royal official's son in John 4:43-54 demonstrate the power and authority of Jesus?
3. How does John 20:30-31 explain the purpose of the signs and miracles performed by Jesus?

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a 'sign' or 'miracle' in your life. How did it strengthen your faith in Jesus?
2. In the next week, how can you show faith like the royal official, who believed Jesus's word that his son would be healed, in a situation in your life?
3. Can you think of someone in your life who is yet to believe in Jesus? How can you use the purpose of John's gospel, as stated in John 20:30-31, to guide your conversation with them?
4. Think of a situation in your life that needs a 'miracle'. How can you invite Jesus into that situation this week?
5. How can you use the stories of Jesus's signs in John to encourage someone in your life who is struggling with their faith?

Devotional

Day 1: The Journey of Faith Begins with Seeking Jesus

The journey of faith begins with a reasonable and thought-through decision to seek Jesus. This initial stage of faith is characterized by hearing about Jesus and sensing that there is something He can offer. Recognizing this progression of faith can help individuals deepen their faith and experience the transformative power of Jesus in their lives. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLAZ_6oc3Q&t=750s))

Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: What was the initial reason you sought Jesus? How has your faith journey progressed since then?

Day 2: The Power of Jesus' Word

Jesus' word alone has the power to bring about healing, demonstrating His supreme authority over sickness, time, and geography. Trusting in the promises of God means believing that what God says will come to pass because He stands outside of time and geography. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLAZ_6oc3Q&t=1335s))

Psalm 107:20 - "He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."

Reflection: How have you experienced the healing power of Jesus' word in your life?

Day 3: Faith in Jesus Brings Calmness and Peace

Even when faced with anxieties and uncertainties, trusting in Jesus brings calmness and peace. This is illustrated by the royal official who, despite being far from home, believed Jesus' word and waited until the next day to return home. ([32:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLAZ_6oc3Q&t=1920s))

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: How can you practice trusting in Jesus' word to bring calmness and peace in your current circumstances?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Wisdom and Sovereignty

Jesus responds to people in need by standing above their circumstances and using them in unexpected ways. He provides what we truly need, even when we are too anxious or focused on something else to realize it. ([41:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLAZ_6oc3Q&t=2495s))

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Can you recall a time when God's ways did not align with your plans, but His wisdom and sovereignty prevailed?

Day 5: True Faith Focuses on Trusting Jesus' Character and Word

True faith in Jesus goes beyond trusting what He can do and instead focuses on trusting His character and word. This kind of faith, which grows from a place of reasonableness to a deep trust in Jesus, settles our hearts in Him and transforms us. ([51:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLAZ_6oc3Q&t=3070s))

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from what Jesus can do to trusting in His character and word?

Quotes

"When Faith goes from reasonableness to trust, it leads to peace. When you trust Jesus, when you really trust him, you're transformed from someone who's always worried to someone who lives from a place of Peace." [01:27:45]

"The second sign is a sign of Jesus's supreme authority over sickness, time, and geography." [01:06:05]

"Jesus doesn't do that he's not caught up in our circumstances he stands above them and he can use them in ways that we have no idea about it's just amazing in every situation that we find ourselves in Jesus Works in ways that we might not expect and don't even realize it's possible." [01:15:42]

"If Jesus said it, it's as good as done. When you read your Bible and you notice there's a promise there from God, it means that it will come to pass. It's not just a plan, it's certainty." [01:24:14]

"This faith in Jesus settles our heart in him, it's transforming. His anxiety was gone, his heart was calm again, he was utterly transformed. They changed from this anxious father into a calm one." [01:26:21]

"We have such a strong idea, don't we, of the outcomes that we think are right. I absolutely thought I knew best and thought that God just needed to catch up with me. I wanted a particular outcome rather than trusting the character of God." [01:19:42]

"True faith in Jesus takes him at his word, it's trusting. Do we trust him? Do we place our faith in the person of Christ, not even in the work of Christ but in his character? Do you trust him? And there's a difference, isn't there, between trusting what somebody can do and trusting them, their character, their word. It's the key to faith."

"True faith in Jesus settles our heart in him, it's transforming. Look at what happens to this official. It tells us while he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. Then the father realized that this was the exact time in which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and his whole household believed."

"In our journey of faith, it is crucial to recognize that our trust in God should not be based on the outcomes we expect, but rather on our relationship with Him. When we shift our focus from our own desires to seeking Him, we will find true trust and fulfillment."

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Transcript
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