Do you believe?

Big Idea: Do you believe that Jesus is who he says he is.

We’re coming up on a new year. Have any of you ever made a New Year's resolution or chosen a word for the year. Anybody ever had a word for the year? This was new to me that this was a thing, but we chose to do it anyway.

Our word for 2015 was going to be Believe. I want to read you something...

Intro: Personal Story “I want to believe more.”

I want to believe more. Believe more that he is who He says he is and in that I would...
Love deeper
Thrive in His grace expectantly
Watch for His faithfulness
Have joy in the mornings
Pray with anticipation
And learn from His living Spirit in me!

“Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?””
‭‭John‬ ‭11:40‬

This was posted January 1st 2015 by my wife.

This was going to be the word for the year. As a family we were going to believe. Believe that God is who He says He is. Believe that miracles can happen. Believe that He would use our family, the good, bad, and the ugly for His glory!

We were coming out of a very difficult last 3 years. Are you in a hard season?

Question: Have you ever been through a hard season where you just need to believe that God is who He says He is? If I’m talking to somebody can I hear a “C’mon” or “Amen!”

In every challenge God was present and ever faithful. There was a season coming up that had many question marks. Many unknowns that could radically change our family forever. The question we had to ask was “Do we believe?” In the season you are in right now. Do you believe?

Background: Early in Jesus’ ministry

Jesus is going around teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel, and healing every disease and affliction among the people. (Matthew 4:23-25)

We’re going to pick it up here in Matthew 9:27-31.

Passage: Matthew 9:27-31

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened.

Pray:

CIT: Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

Principles From This Story:

1. They were following Jesus
   1. “And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him”
   2. Here’s how I’d apply that: when you believe in somebody you do what? You follow them!
      1. Think facebook or instagram for a second. When there’s an athlete, actor, pastor (shout out @parkermanuel), family, or friend that you believe in, you follow them.
   3. Now whether or not they had help following Him because they were blind, we do not know. Regardless, we see them making an effort to follow close against all odds.
   4. Question: When you’re at your deepest point of need, where do you turn?
   5. Application: At your deepest point of need, Jesus will meet you there.

2. They had a sense of urgency

   1. “crying aloud,”
   2. Crying aloud or yelling at the top of their lungs they cried!
   3. Question: Have you ever been desperate?

   4. Illust: James River Rafting

      1. Rafting down the James River and the boat crashes. 10 men spread across the night grabbing on to tops of trees and everything else! When you are desperate, it doesn’t matter what other people think.

         5. When we seek Jesus with urgency, whether in our pain, grief, or doubt, it gets the attention of others. When people get loud and crazy they tend to get noticed right? Anybody have that person in your family? Maybe you’re sitting next to that person right now. :) Don’t point.
         6. Passive people turn into radical crazies when they aggressively seek after Jesus in their deepest points of desperation. “Hey Jesus! I’m right here!” “HELP!!!!”
         7. Question: When was the last time you were going through something in your life and you needed to get God’s attention?

      2. When you cried out loud to God?

      3. We see many occasions in Scripture where Jesus is healing people and a constant theme is that the people are persistent and radical in their pursuit of Him.
      4. They acknowledged Jesus as Messiah
         1. “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
         2. “Son of David” was a common way to address Jesus as the Messiah. They knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. (Is. 9:7)
         3. I want to pause here for just a second, this is a critical point in the story where everything changes.
         4. Question: Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?

      5. This question changes everything!

         5. The two blind men acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. They are recognizing Him as the promised King from David’s line. The one that will redeem the lost and save the sinner. The way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
         6. Application: So much of our faith journey gets stuck at this point.

      6. We approach God almost as if we have been entitled to certain privileges.

      7. A humble approach is the only acceptable response if we want to engage the power of God!
      8. Who are we God that you would hear our voice and attend to our prayers?!
      9. Start your prayers off by acknowledging who Jesus is and what He has done for you. I guarantee it will change and affect the rest of your prayer time.

      10. They believed and had faith

          1. “28* *When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
          2. Notice the questions Jesus didn’t ask…

      11. “Tell me about your past?” Jesus wasn’t concerned about their past. When you encounter Jesus, His forgiveness meets you where you are and washes your past clean.

      12. “What other methods of treatment have you sought after?” Jesus wasn’t against physicians. He just didn’t start there. His healing power needs no report for He is the ultimate physician.

      13. The emphasis was on one singular focus… faith! Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Here’s how I’d apply that: behind that question is a bigger one. “Do you believe I am who I say I am?”

          3. Jesus could have just healed them immediately, but He takes a pause and causes them to reflect and requires a response.

      14. It could have been that He was testing their faith.

          4. Question: What are you coming to God with, maybe with urgency, and Jesus is asking you “Do you believe?”

      15. Do you believe I am who I say I am?

      16. Do you believe in my nature and purpose for your life?
      17. Do you believe in the promises that I have for you?
      18. Do you believe?
      19. They confessed Him as “Lord”

   5. “They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

   6. First they acknowledge Him as Messiah and then they confess Him as “Lord”

   7. Yes I believe, Lord. No hesitation, no pause, I don’t need to think about it, You are Lord over all. I believe!

      1. Is this our confession when we think about that question over our lives?
      2. Or do we give a partial, half hearted, “I think so.” or “I hope so”
      3. If you want to experience the power of God on your life, bring Him an honest “Yes! Lord!” and trust Him with how He answers.
      4. They experienced God's power

   8. “29* *Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”* *30* *And their eyes were opened.”

Back to the Big Idea: Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?

3 Walking Points:

1. Live in His Power
   1. “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” Ephesians 1:18-19
2. Abound in His Hope
   1. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
3. Trust in His plan
   1. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

Questions:

• Where do you turn at your deepest point of need?
• Do you believe that He is who He says He is?
• Do you believe?

Personal Story: 2015

This was the year that God opened up for us opportunities that seemed impossible. In the spring of this year we were able to adopt our two oldest boys through a series of miracles.

It was this year that we took our first trip out west and prayed through the streets of Boulder, believing that God was calling us to these people.

We saw God move in our church in incredible ways!

We didn’t believe in a what, we believed in The Who. We didn’t know what the year might bring, but we trusted in the one who was in control of it all.

“Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?””
‭‭John‬ ‭11:40‬