Series: That You May Believe
Message: Deepening Your Faith
Scripture: John 4:43-54

Too often there is a difference between our Confessional faith and our Functional faith

Jesus desires for our faith and trust in Him to grow and to deepen as we walk with Him

Progression Of A Father’s Faith

Setting The Scene (43-45):

1. Crisis Faith (46-48)

• Royal official – not too proud to admit his need
• Told Christ how to handle the situation
• Presented His Need before presenting Himself

Vs. 48 – Reply seems harsh – Plural pronouns – Perhaps addressing the crowd

Note: Jesus will meet us here, but He does not want to Leave us here

2. Confident Faith (49-50)

• Believing comes before Seeing
• As individuals Act on the commands of God, they open the way for God’s power to operate in their lives
• Royal official - Not too controlling to walk by faith – He trusted Jesus enough to allow Him to work in whatever way He chooses

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

3. Confirmed Faith (51-53)

• Obeying precedes the experience of The Blessing
• Jesus did not just want to heal a boy physically, but to heal the whole family Spiritually

Henry Blackaby: 7 Realities Of Experiencing God

• God is always at work around you
• God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal
• God invites you to become involved with Him in His work
• God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways
• God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
• You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
• You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you

4. Contagious Faith (53)

• Servants – Excited over the healing
• Father – Knew the rest of the story
• Father’s faith Spread to others

Some Closing Observations

1. Sin always blocks our relationship with God, but suffering can Deepen It
2. When you face a problem or suffering in your life, do what this man did, Go To Jesus
3. Let Jesus answer you on His Own Terms
4. Deepening faith comes to love Jesus for who He is in Himself, not merely for the Benefits He Gives
5. Deepening faith is contagious – Show And Share the love and truth of Jesus

Making It Personal:

• Where are you on your faith journey today?
• Are you right now trusting in Jesus Christ alone as your only Savior and rightful leader and Lord?
• Where are you facing a “crisis of belief” that requires faith and action?
• What will it look like for you to show and share the love and truth of Jesus Christ with others?
• Who can you share these truths with?