From Belief to Knowing: Experiencing Jesus Daily

In today's gathering, we explored the profound difference between merely believing in Jesus and truly knowing Him. This distinction is crucial for our spiritual journey, as knowing Jesus involves a deeper, more intimate relationship that goes beyond intellectual acknowledgment. We began by reflecting on the story of Lazarus in John 11, where Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life." This statement is not just about a future event but a present reality that Jesus embodies. He is life itself, and through Him, we can experience resurrection in our daily lives, overcoming the dead ends that we encounter.

We discussed how Jesus uses tangible metaphors like "I am the door," "I am the good shepherd," and "I am the vine" to reveal Himself to us. These metaphors invite us to experience Him in our lives by remaining in Him, obeying Him, and trusting Him. The journey of faith is about moving from head knowledge to heart knowledge, where we truly live out our faith in Jesus.

We identified three common dead ends: doubt, discouragement, and delay. Doubt often holds us back from fully trusting Jesus, but He is the bridge that can overcome our uncertainties. Discouragement can paralyze us, but encouragement through Jesus brings life. Lastly, the dead end of delay challenges our patience, but God's timing is perfect, and His plans are always for our good.

The story of Lazarus teaches us that Jesus is not just a figure of the past or a future hope but a present reality who desires to resurrect the dead areas of our lives. Whether it's doubt, fear, or any other dead end, Jesus invites us to lean into Him, trust Him, and experience the abundant life He offers.

Key Takeaways

• 1. **Believing vs. Knowing Jesus:** It's essential to move beyond merely believing in Jesus to truly knowing Him. This involves a deeper relationship where we experience Him as the resurrection and the life in our daily lives. Knowing Jesus means living out our faith through obedience and trust. [35:25]
• 2. Jesus as the Resurrection and Life: Jesus' declaration that He is the resurrection and the life is not just about a future event but a present reality. He embodies life itself, and through Him, we can overcome the dead ends in our lives. [47:50]
• 3. Overcoming Doubt: Doubt can be a significant barrier in our spiritual journey. However, Jesus is the bridge that helps us overcome our uncertainties. By leaning into Him and trusting His promises, we can move from doubt to faith. [53:05]
• 4. **Discouragement vs. Encouragement:** Discouragement can hold us back, but encouragement through Jesus brings life. We are called to be encouragers, bringing life to others and ourselves by focusing on Jesus and His promises. [55:22]
• 5. God's Timing and Delays: Delays in our lives can be frustrating, but God's timing is perfect. He always has our best interests at heart, and what may seem like a delay is often a part of His greater plan for our lives. [01:05:25]
  ** [65:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [31:26] - Introduction and Prayer Requests
• [33:03] - Opening Prayer
• [33:39] - Series Introduction
• [35:10] - Believing vs. Knowing Jesus
• [36:43] - Knowing Jesus Through His Word
• [37:48] - Experiencing Jesus
• [39:03] - Jesus as the Resurrection and Life
• [41:00] - The Story of Lazarus
• [46:50] - Moving from Head to Heart Knowledge
• [49:49] - Dead End of Doubts
• [53:53] - Dead End of Discouragement
• [64:55] - Dead End of Delay
• [67:23] - Do You Believe?
• [69:35] - Closing Thoughts and Prayer

1. In the story of Lazarus, what was Jesus' initial response when He heard about Lazarus's sickness, and how did His disciples react to His decision to return to Judea? ([39:57])
2. How did Martha and Mary each respond to Jesus' arrival, and what does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus' power? ([41:33])
3. What was the significance of Jesus declaring, "I am the resurrection and the life," in the context of His conversation with Martha? ([41:47])
4. How did the crowd react to Jesus' actions and words at Lazarus's tomb, and what does this indicate about their perception of Jesus? ([43:10])

1. What does the story of Lazarus teach about the difference between believing in Jesus and truly knowing Him? How does this distinction impact one's faith journey? ([46:50])
2. How do the metaphors Jesus uses, such as "I am the resurrection and the life," help believers understand His role in their lives? What does it mean for Jesus to be a present reality rather than just a future hope? ([47:50])
3. In what ways do doubt, discouragement, and delay serve as dead ends in our spiritual journey, and how can Jesus help us overcome these barriers? ([49:49])
4. How does the timing of Jesus' actions in the story of Lazarus illustrate the concept of God's perfect timing, and what can believers learn from this about patience and trust? ([01:05:25])

1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were merely believing in Jesus rather than truly knowing Him. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him this week? ([35:25])
2. Identify a "dead end" in your life, such as doubt, discouragement, or delay. How can you invite Jesus to resurrect this area and bring new life? ([53:05])
3. Jesus uses metaphors like "I am the vine" to describe His relationship with believers. How can you remain in Him, obey Him, and trust Him more fully in your daily life? ([37:48])
4. Consider a situation where you have experienced discouragement. How can you shift your focus to Jesus' promises and become an encourager to others? ([55:22])
5. Think about a time when you were frustrated by delays in your life. How can you practice patience and trust in God's perfect timing this week? ([01:05:25])
6. How can you practically move from head knowledge to heart knowledge in your faith journey? What specific actions can you take to live out your faith more authentically? ([46:50])
7. Reflect on the statement, "If God can defeat death, God can do anything, including resurrecting me from my dead ends." How can this truth empower you to face challenges in your life? ([01:09:50])