faith is more than just belief

FAITH IS MORE FAITH IS MORE THAN JUST THAN JUST

BELIEFBELIEF

Acts 16:31Acts 16:31

Believe in the Lord JesusBelieve in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved , and you will be saved — you — you and your household. and your household.

BeliefBelief = to accept as true or real - = to accept as true or real - acceptance of the truth or reality acceptance of the truth or reality of anything without certain proof.of anything without certain proof.

The Great EncyclopediaThe Great EncyclopediaDictionaryDictionary

What is it about beliefWhat is it about belief

that makes it the faiththat makes it the faith

God wants you to have?God wants you to have?

John 4:46-50John 4:46-50

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. “Unless you son, who was close to death. “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. Your child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. and departed.

John 4:51-54John 4:51-54

While he was still on the way, his servants met While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. him with the news that his boy was living.

When he inquired as to the time when his son When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. live.” So he and all his household believed. This was the second miraculous sign that This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.Galilee.

I. Belief was Expressed in What I. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Could Do Lord Jesus Could Do - v46-49- v46-49

A. Who was this person?A. Who was this person?

I. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Could Do.I. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Could Do.

A. Who was this person?A. Who was this person?Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he

had turned the water into wine. And there had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain was a certain royal officialroyal official whose son lay whose son lay sick at Capernaum. - v46sick at Capernaum. - v46

1. 1. Royal Official Royal Official ((ἠ̂�ν τις ἠ̂�ν τις βασιλικὸςβασιλικὸς) = a person ) = a person associated with a king.associated with a king.


A. Who was this person?A. Who was this person?Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he

had turned the water into wine. And there had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain was a certain royal officialroyal official whose son lay whose son lay sick at Capernaum. - v46sick at Capernaum. - v46

2. Probably a different event from 2. Probably a different event from healing the Centurion’s healing the Centurion’s

servant.servant.Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10


B. What did he need?B. What did he need?


B. What did he need?B. What did he need?And there was a certain royal official whose And there was a certain royal official whose

son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and Judea, he went to him and begged him to begged him to come and heal his soncome and heal his son, who was close to , who was close to death. - v46-47death. - v46-47

1. The Lord’s ability as a 1. The Lord’s ability as a miraclemiracle workerworker..



son son lay sicklay sick at Capernaum. When this man at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to come and heal his son, who was close to death. - v46-47death. - v46-47

2. 2. SickSick ( (ἀσθενέωἀσθενέω) = feeble, ) = feeble, too too weak to get out of bed.weak to get out of bed.



son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was come and heal his son, who was close to close to deathdeath. - v46-47. - v46-47

3. The son was close to 3. The son was close to deathdeath!!


C. How did the Lord respond to this C. How did the Lord respond to this type of belief?type of belief?

Unless you people see miraculous signs and Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe. - v48.wonders you will never believe. - v48.



1. Faith must be more than just 1. Faith must be more than just believing truths!believing truths!

John 2:23-25 - Now while he was in Jerusalem at the John 2:23-25 - Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, Passover Feast, many people saw the many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his namehis name. . But Jesus would not entrust himself to But Jesus would not entrust himself to themthem, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s , for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.man.



2. To have a personal 2. To have a personal relation-relation-ship with the Lord more than ship with the Lord more than intellectual belief is necessary!intellectual belief is necessary!


I. Belief was Expressed in What I. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Could Do Lord Jesus Could Do - v46-49- v46-49

II. Belief was Expressed in What II. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Said Lord Jesus Said -- v50-53 v50-53

A. What did He say?A. What did He say?““You may go. Your son will live.” The man took You may go. Your son will live.” The man took

Jesus at his word and departed. - v50Jesus at his word and departed. - v50

II. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Said.II. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Said.

A. What did He say?A. What did He say?““You may go. Your son will live.” You may go. Your son will live.” The man took The man took

Jesus at his wordJesus at his word and departed. - v50 and departed. - v50

1. This person believed that if 1. This person believed that if Jesus said it - that was good Jesus said it - that was good enough!enough!


A. What did He say?A. What did He say?

2. This was not a blind faith.2. This was not a blind faith.While he was still on the way, his servants met While he was still on the way, his servants met

him with the news that his boy was living. him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hourleft him yesterday at the seventh hour.”.” Then the father realized that this was the Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. - v51-53household believed. - v51-53


B. How do you begin developing the B. How do you begin developing the faith God is looking for?faith God is looking for?



1. 1. HearHear & & studystudy the word of God. the word of God.Romans 10:17 - Consequently, Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes faith comes

from hearingfrom hearing the message, and the message, and the the message is heard through the word of message is heard through the word of ChristChrist. .



2. 2. AcceptAccept & & obeyobey God’s word. God’s word.James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word,

and so deceive yourselves. and so deceive yourselves. Do what it saysDo what it says. .



3. Develop the conviction that 3. Develop the conviction that the the word of God is true without word of God is true without needing certainty.needing certainty.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not we hope for and certain of what we do not see.see.


I. Belief was Expressed in What I. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus Could DoLord Jesus Could Do

II. Belief was Expressed in What II. Belief was Expressed in What Lord Jesus SaidLord Jesus Said

III. Faith is a Commitment to Who III. Faith is a Commitment to Who Lord Jesus Really Is!Lord Jesus Really Is!

A. Who is Lord Jesus?A. Who is Lord Jesus?

III. Faith is a Commitment to Who Lord Jesus Really Is.III. Faith is a Commitment to Who Lord Jesus Really Is.

A. Who is Lord Jesus?A. Who is Lord Jesus? Matthew 16:13-16 - When Jesus came to the Matthew 16:13-16 - When Jesus came to the

region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Who do people say the Son of Man isMan is?” They replied, “Some say John the ?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”the Christ, the Son of the living God.”


A. Who is Lord Jesus?A. Who is Lord Jesus? Matthew 16:13-16 - When Jesus came to the Matthew 16:13-16 - When Jesus came to the

region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are You are the Christ, the Son of the living Godthe Christ, the Son of the living God.”.”


B. What did the servants’ answer B. What did the servants’ answer say about Jesus?say about Jesus?

When he inquired as to the time when his son When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the father realized that this was the exact the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” - v52-53son will live.” - v52-53



When he inquired as to the time when his son When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “got better, they said to him, “The fever left The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hourhim yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then .” Then the father realized that the father realized that this was the exact this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will liveson will live.” - v52-53.” - v52-53

1. He is 1. He is omnipresentomnipresent - everywhere - everywhere at the same time.at the same time.




2. He is 2. He is omnipotentomnipotent - all - all powerful.powerful.




3. This statement means that 3. This statement means that Jesus is Jesus is GodGod HimselfHimself!!




Christmas - Christmas - IncarnationIncarnation..




Matthew 16:16 - Simon Peter answered, “Matthew 16:16 - Simon Peter answered, “You You are the Christ, the Son of the living Godare the Christ, the Son of the living God.”.”

Romans 10:9 - That if you confess with your Romans 10:9 - That if you confess with your mouth, “mouth, “Jesus is LordJesus is Lord,” and believe in your ,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be savedyou will be saved. .


C. What is the faith God is looking C. What is the faith God is looking for in you?for in you?

It establishes a relationship with the It establishes a relationship with the Lord as a person!Lord as a person!



1. Does your faith have to reach 1. Does your faith have to reach maturity before the Lord will maturity before the Lord will take take you to heaven?you to heaven?




Luke 23:42-43 - “Luke 23:42-43 - “Jesus, remember me when Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdomyou come into your kingdom.” Jesus .” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”you will be with me in paradise.”




Colossians 3:9-10 - You have taken off your old Colossians 3:9-10 - You have taken off your old self with its practices and have self with its practices and have put on the put on the new selfnew self, which is being renewed in , which is being renewed in knowledge knowledge in the image of its Creatorin the image of its Creator. .



2. What are the real questions?2. What are the real questions?




Have you come to know the Lord Have you come to know the Lord through the study of His word?through the study of His word?




Have you come to know the Lord Have you come to know the Lord through living His lifestyle?through living His lifestyle?




Have you come to trust the Lord Have you come to trust the Lord with your life?with your life?


faith is more than just belief

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