Sermon Tone Analysis

You hear they arrested the devil?

Got him for possession

Termite walks into a bar, and says is the bar tender here;?

And so some see this and they begin to think why would he go there and this must be a contradiction because we are going to see that he does some good things in his hometown, but most likely what has happened is the first time he had no power.

so he knew they needed him more than ever, so after some time he returns and they begin to listen to what he has to say.

He knew he needed to be there, and this can really be a lesson in not stopping with the people that need to hear from you, to continue to reach out to them even when they haven’t listened the first time, This by no means that htey are goign to listen to you a second or third time, but I think it does show that we dont have to give up

This man was a government official, and most probably a person of high standing in Herod’s Court The word used to describe him was not the same word that was used to describe Nicodemus in chapter 3, instead, this was a word basilikos, which is more closely related to a king or royalty which shows he was most likely an official in Herods court.

So he is definitely a man of influence here that is coming to Jesus to see what is going on.

The five stages of Faith

1 A Beginning or Seeking Faith

This mans actions show exactly what is involved in a beginning faith.

Whats involved in a beginning faith?

A. This man had a desperate need .

His son was at the point of death, and there was nothing else that the official knew that could be done, somethign had to give.

It is easy to know that all of us have a desperate need.

It doesnt matter of our social status the problem with life is that it isa lways going to give us problems.

We cant outrun them that is exactly the story of living in a fallen world.

THis man lived and associated with the King and he couldn’t escape lifes problems.

So there was a huge need.

But knowing that need is exactly why so many older pastors talk about how we need to talk about sin from the pulpit.

For so long we have had generations of pastors that are afraid to talk about sin because they wanted to fill the churches, but these old guys will tell you and preach that you have to know what your sin is so we can see how much we need Jesus, thats why the first part of sharing the gospel needs to be explaining how far we have fallen off our intended path, and seperated from God so we can see our intense need

Oswald Chambers: Read it

B. The Second part of this beginning faith, is he heard about Jesus.

He knew what he was capable of and his interest had been piqued.

We always have to follow up the deep need with who Jesus is and what he is capabple of

This will go so well with stage 5 of coming to faith.... and we could almost read it again there...

Romans 10:14

C. THe third part of beginning faith is COMING to Jesus.

Even in the middle of what could have been the biggest disaster in his life this man decided that he needed to come to Jesus.

Jesus was the only person that he had ever heard of that may be able to help him in the situation that he was in.

ANd because of this he was willing to sacrifice so much to be able to go to Jesus.

He left the side of his dying son to be able to go to Jesus, most of us would not do that in the face of death to go and see someone we had just heard about.

Imagine the way he must have felt leaving his son behind knowing that when he left he may never see him alive again.

The man had about a days journey to reach Jesus.

Capernaum was about twenty miles from Cana… and I cant imagine how he felt with every step he took as he went on his way toward jesus.

It would have been gut wrenching.

Left with his thoughts of what could happwn what was probably happening but still making the conscious decisiion to go to Jesus.

He didnt turn the deaf ear to what he had heard and leave it at that just the hearing stage… he knew he had to go.

Look at Jeremiah 17:7

The man didn’t let his position keep him from Jesus.

He didnt get caught up in pride of what the others might think about him, he knew that his only hope was Jesus so he had to go.

And so many of us allow our fears to go to Jesus… what people may think.

What they may say.

so many people with Status in communities are afraid of what people may think.

THe last thing we see in this beginning stage of faith is the man was begging Jesus for his help, it is translated here as asked for help, but really the word erota has this idea that he was begging Jesus for his help.

But why?

Because he knew he could… he had a desperate need that only he could fill so he asked for help.

Malachi on the toilet story

2. A Persistent Faith

The second stage of faith is shown here, this man is saying come and heal my son, and Jesus comes back with, what, unless I heal him you aren’t going to believe in me.And of importance here the you that Jesus is saying is plural… he is saying y’all.... its not just this man JEsus is talking to the crowd… this is a codemnation not just on him, but everyone that is there… he wants them all to hear what he is saying… in the southern translation that would definitely be y’all... Is what I am saying, my word, not enough?

And Jesus is trying to teach the man this lesson, that his word has to be enough.

I remember different parts of my faith Journey where I had this same statement, Jesus if you just..... help me pass this test… help me to make this right… I will never doubt you… you ever been there, you have this bargaining sense with God, like you believing in him is something that is of equal value to you both… right… It has more meaning for us he wants us to believe, but this isnt a bargaining chip… we should believe in him, our belief in him doesn’t change HIM it changes us...

Belief should come before the signs and wonders… and let me explain, I think its hard to believe in signs and wonders unless there is some sense of Jesus in your heart… otherwise you will write it off to something completely different than what it is.. .its

no Jesus… it was the doctor… it wasn there to begin with… so many different ways to reason it all away....

And what we see here is this mans persistence or insistence even… he was in no shape to be able to argue with Jesus to tell him what he was doing rightly or wrongly, he was only able be persistent… he was desperate… and I know that feeling and I am sure there are some of you do as well… I remember the moment with Josiah...

Look though… Jesus kind of comes back at him, but the man doesn’t let that stop him… he is persistent… Jesus I need you to heal my son… but Jesus wants him to be sure to know that the signs and wonders weren’t what is important… that his eternal salvation was at stake....

And it seems the man was helped because he persisted… he didn’t let it go… it shows that he recognized Jesus for who he was he didn’t need to go to anyone else he knew that Jesus was his only hope so he kept going to him.

THink about it, if we stop asking God, aren’t we saying we don’t think he is capable… maybe not in those words, but indirectly that is exactly what we are saying… Listen to what I think is my first or second favorite verse in all of the Bible

The third stage of Faith

3. A Trusting, Obedient, working Faith

The third stage was a trusting obedient working faith...

Look at this… here is what Jesus charged him with “GO” and the promise?

“Your son will live.”

And after this we see the mans belief in Jesus, “The man believed the word of Jesus...” the language in the Greek here denotes action and IMMEDIATE belief… he believed and turned immediately to go home to his son… SO what did he believe in as he left?

- Jesus’ love

Jesus omniscience

Jesus omnipotence

As we talk about this faith moving forward and its steps, it is important to know that it wasnt just faith but obedience that helped him to receive the promise of JEsus

He didn’t question how is this possible with you so far away… you didn’t even say anything… and this is what he could have done...

WHAT WE DO

And I would tell you there is no faith without obedience… This is the same as faith without works is dead… I think works and obedience go hand in hand.

Look at the story in Luke 7:7 of Jesus and the Centurions servant… a similar situation..

4. A Confirmed Faith

The fourth stage is a confirmed faith.

AS he was going… he was in the act of obeying Jesus when he received the good news that his prayer was answered.

He had believed and obeyed and on his way home He got word.

HE had already believed but he wanted to know the exact moment he was reaching for even more faith in JEsus… and he says… what time… and he wants to know that it was at teh exact same time,,.

he already had an idea… he already believed it could be true… and this was just confirming his belief...

How does this relate?

5.

A Witnessing Faith

The fifth stage is the witnessing stage.

Look he witnessed to all of his household, about his experience, and the Word he had promised, and they all believed and then devoted themselves to Jesus Messiah.

This wouldnt have been easy… remember who he is.... remember what this means for his family/..

Which step do you find yourself in this morning?

Maybe you aren’t a christian, and this morning you find yourself in the midst of great despair… and you have heard of Jesus… and you need to come to him Jesus here at the altar and I will meet you, and we will pray together, and obviously we won’t stop there, but we will give you the chance to follow the steps of salvation and admit that you are a sinner, and believer that he can change you, and give your life to him as you profess him as your personal lord and saviour… and we can then go and get in the water of baptism and baptize you this morning.

I wont promise its warm, the last time I did that I lied...