Encounters 3 (The Doubter)

Welcome to the radio ministry ethically returns in Henderson Varco is to make Christ visible Clearview is a place of genuine worship with ministries for all age groups and all people. For more information, visit us at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online@clearviewb.org now join us for this week's message by Pastor items message in our series called encounters engaging people. The Jesus way and this one is about a well-to-do man who seem to have it all together until his little boy became gravely ill and only a miracle could save him in his desperation he came to Jesus, but he had a problem. He was a doubter he had trouble believing in Jesus. If you have your Bibles with you turn to John chapter 4. Starting in verse 46 in a saucepan together as we read God's word. There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at cup are no when he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and implored him to come down and heal his son for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe the nobleman said to him, sir. Come down before my child dies. Jesus said to him, co-your way, your son lives as many of you know or maybe some of you know that I am one of the chaplains at our local hospital and I get many interesting responses when I walk into the hospital room three of the most common ones are like this.

The first one is the praise Jesus room. I walk in and immediately I can tell the person or the family that believe in God, they believe in Jesus Christ. They are happy to see me and please pray for us. Let's hold hands together. I mean I walk away more encouraged than I bring the encouragement to them.

The second kind of room that I walk into is the we been out of church lately kind of room. I walk in there. Glad to see me but they feel guilty and embarrassed that they haven't been in charge and I were the need to be in their life.

I pray for them to but sometimes are glad to see me go. The third kind a room that I walk into is what I called. I guess you can make into med school, as all Indians are supposed to be doctors.

What happened to you kind of room to look at me when I tell them I'm a chaplain old chaplain and what they're saying is that you must be a hack who likes to manipulate people's insecurities for living. I guess that's what you are because we don't go along with anything that is not strictly medical or scientific, and you are neither. Some of them don't even want me to pray for them.

The person were going to look at this morning just heard individual in the series would probably fall into this last category I keep in mind were studying for individual between these two bracket versus the first one John 224, 25, the second one John five 3441. In both these passages Jesus is exposing the human nature he's telling us that he knows what is in human beings and what is it, it is sin, and he has no need of any endorsement from people he is here to save them in between these two passages for individuals have an encounter with Jesus Christ.

The first one we met two weeks ago was Nicodemus, a religious man. The second one. Last weekend was a Samaritan woman, an outcast and the person were going to meet today is a rich nobleman who was a doubter in the next weekend we will meet this person who was sick and waiting for someone to help him for different individuals from different walks of life different needs in their lives. Jesus met each one of them right where they were engaged them with the gospel in the way they could understand and then transform them. Jesus saw beneath the surface, even though they were different. They had the same need, the need for a Savior, Jesus met them right where they were and left them changed forever. This morning we will see the part person. The doubter before we do that, let me ask you a few questions because every message should have some response. If not, it's just a good speech after the message you have to do something so the questions are like this. Do you know someone in your life who is a doubter, a family member is son or a daughter that went off to college in the came back and now they are full of question and doubts he they grew up in charge. They went to Sunday school, youth groups, but now when you talk about church and Christianity look at you and say well if you were to go to the schools been to and listen to the professors I listen to you understand. Maybe someone in your life who is a coworker or friend you get along with them every other place same hobbies, same food, same way of dressing, but when it comes to faith. They don't believe they don't have the same faith that you do.

How do you reach people like this this morning's message will hopefully help you reach them the way Jesus reached such people. Maybe you are that person who has never placed their faith in Jesus Christ your great person wonderful person do anything for anybody you just don't believe this morning. Maybe the Holy Spirit will speak to your hearts open your eyes that you may see Jesus and be saved. But there's one more. Maybe you're here this morning and you do believe you receive Jesus as your Savior. You are a Christian you are a believer, but for some reason lately. Well me lately in the past six months or six years you have stopped believing things have happened in your life and you don't have the faith that you use to. Somehow you have forgotten now praying this morning that the Holy Spirit the way he breathed life into you when you got saved once again breathed life into you so that you may believe.

Again, this is not a leap in the dark. This is Iraq solid faith in the living true God and Jesus Christ.

Let that faith come through again so many different scenarios there, but I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you wherever you are, whomever you are to begin. Who was this nobleman, verse 46 says. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he had made the water wine. I remember last weekend Jesus leaving Samaria went further to the north into Galilee, and came to the town of Canada. This was the place John to where he turned water into wine. The first of the signs of the coming Messiah work began to spread that the same Jesus who did miracles and Cana and did miracles in Jerusalem is now back and people began to come and one such person was this nobleman was a say about him. His son was sick at Capernaum.

Now in that one short statement. There is so much there that can help us create this person's profiles. Let's begin to look at his profile. The Greek word is basilica because which is an adjective that means he was Royal not does not mean like a British royalty audit means that he worked for a king. Because if he was a king.

The word would be bossy layers, but it is only basilica because means he works for a king. But he was not just an ordinary servant, because later on we find out that he had many servants. So apparently this nobleman was, would you say he was an important person if he is working for the king and he had his own servants. I would say he was an important person he was important. What else do we know about him. It says that he came from Capernaum that that helps us understand who was the king he was working for. I can go and tell you he was not working for the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar would not put one of his close advisors or aides into Capernaum in 1500 population fishing village on the Sea of Galilee. More than likely he was working for Herod and depress Herod and the bus was the son of King Herod and I remember King Herod had many kids and he killed most of them off but Herod Antipas was left in couple more and he was in charge of Galilee. He was a tetrarch administrator of Galilee. What else do we know about Herod Antipas.

Well, he was quite a character just like daddy.

He did what he wanted to do. In fact, he took his own half brothers wife.

As a result, and who was the one who called them out for that anybody member who called them out for that John the Baptist. He said that his sin and you are wrong for doing that what you do John the Baptist he took in men through him into prison and then this new wife Herodias's daughter Salome was doing this provocative dancer. He was so moved by lust. You said whatever you want, I'll give it to you, up to half my kingdom, Salome, ran over to her mom and said mom what you think and she said that John the Baptist is always talking about me and this man ask for his head and she came back and said give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter and this man did this nobleman work for this kind of a person what he thing. This one was like he was just like his boss. He listened many times you know you receive people if you're a good person you will hire people who are like you especially close to you. If you are an evil person.

Do you want to good person right next to you of course not, because many he's got always be a problem for me. More than likely this nobleman was not only important, but I believe he was just like his boss he was cruel just like his boss he was immoral.

We have some more information about him. Dear member what Jesus called Herod Antipas he called Ami Fox wanted to call him a fox because he was saying Herod antibusiness lie like a fox and Antabuse hated Jesus for that. He tried to find him and try to kill him.

In fact, if you remember the night before his crucifixion. Jesus was shuffled back and forth between Pilate and Herod and his and what did end up as do is a Jesus to meet Jimmy a miracle. And Jesus did not say a word to him. If Herod Antipas did not believe in Jesus. What you think about his right-hand man, do you think he believed in Jesus.

Of course not. More than likely he didn't believe in Jesus and later on we'll see how true that is. What else do we know about this man listen to verse 47 when he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and keep in mind Capernaum to Cana was about 16 miles, 16 miles uphill.

I don't know. Maybe his wife told him you better go see that miracle worker. Your son is dying Womble to send somebody know you're going to go on your own because he is not to listen to anybody you need to go and tell him and bring him back. I don't know.

Maybe the grandparents told you better go see him as our grandson is good at making his friends told him that listen drop everything go. I personally believe that he was a good father later on you will see the way he talks about his son having to met people like that.

There cruel older crooked to do crazy things but when it comes to the children.

They are very protective and make sure that the kids have the best clothes they go to the best schools that heed the best food they have everything best. They themselves may be rotten but the drop them off at church is a you better not do this, you better stay in church. I personally thing this man was a good father. He took time off to walk uphill. Maybe Road uphill just to make sure his son could live me ask you this morning. Do you know people like this who are important there cruel, very moral. They don't believe in Jesus Christ.

They don't go to church but when it comes to the kids there very protective and then crisis comes into their lives.

This man had a problem. His little boy was dying. He had crisis you know and most people like this look for God when there is crisis in their lives. If you go to them and say we got vacation Bible school, come on down. Then I'm gonna come we have a new Bible study. We have a new this and they won't come but watch when the world caves in the lose their job. They lose their finances, their marriage begins to crumble the somebody in their home or their life gets cancer.

All of a sudden, the going. What do now listen crisis is the way God gets hold of people like this. Always be aware of people around you. You never know what they going to go through and it will look up you're the one who's gonna come alongside and help them come to Jesus Christ. You see, you might be the one who will throw the rope of the gospel. There are many ways people like this when they're going through a crisis.

They have it all together but they have never considered God there open crisis is the moment when people open up, but it's a small window if you don't go in at that time that window will close and you won't be able to reach them. When I first came as a pastor's only church, first church, somebody came to me and said have Rich I want you to keep so-and-so in prayer that there is looks like they're dying pray for them. So I said oh absolutely. I pray for them. Who are they a little mouselike. Well, you tell me where the arm and I'll go visit with them and in Osher real, whatever they say oh no, they're not saved and unsaved okay is it to have a pastor somebody to talk them.

Oh no no no no, nobody can go to see them so they're dying nowise go tell them about Jesus and you want me to go so why do you want me to pray just pray for them. Just all we need to do is pray for them. In the early years I would gonna go long was I okay whatever. Nowadays I just tell them to their face. I'm not bring you so is better for them to just go plunge headlong into hell because the way I'm to do things pray for them to just slow down the process.

Just let him go.

If you truly believe that Jesus Christ is the only way, truth in life.

There is nothing in other religions, philosophies, then you have to tell them about Jesus Christ where the go to hell and burn forever and ever met us old fashion that's called biblical if you don't have the conviction change become an atheist and agnostic become something stop calling yourself a Christian. My biggest problem has been Christians playing interference when I'm trying to bring the gospel to somebody what they think of someone walking there as they all hooked up and I want to go below probably just about anything. No let the Holy Spirit lead and bring the conversation what you think of our safety on the day of judgment as they're headed to hell thank you so much for not ruining my day my last day on earth because I'm headed to hell now. Thank you so much is that with the go say if they receive Christ to hug you and say thank you for looking past my rudeness and my selfishness in coming to me anyway.

Crisis is the way Weathers held financial relational is how God opens that window just for a little bit walk-in. Tell the person. This person has a crisis he comes to Jesus Christ.

How did Jesus engage him. Let's begin to look at that verse 47 when he heard that Jesus had come out of Judaism to Galilee, he went to him and implored him, he kinda ordered him please call come with me.

He didn't believe that Jesus could just say the words he wanted him to come and touch his little boy.

Then Jesus said to him, unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe Jesus seems so rude and insensitive.

Doesn't want anything.

Jesus said what he said because he saw the heart of this individual. He saw through him and saw the unbelief in his heart. And Jesus said I know you're asking me but you don't believe in me you don't believe I can do what you heard about me.

You know you cannot come to Jesus with unbelief in your heart was about to say in Hebrews 11 six without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. You actually have to believe folks wake up most of the time your prayers go unanswered is because you don't believe Jesus saw this man's heart, and he knew he did not believe so he says this to him you people's see signs and wonders.

Without them, you negatively are you what is this man's response. Verse 49 the nobleman said to him, the look is in a come down a few notches sir. I don't IP address Jesus in the opening but now he says, sir, come down before my child dies, can you hear the change. Please, please, and by the way, he also addresses this child differently previously is just my son but now he calls them my little child. This tells me that he really did love his boy listen to what Jesus said to him, verse 50. Jesus said to him, go your way, your son lives you know this man was used to giving orders, telling people what to do. And now Jesus tells them what to do. See how amazing the soul winner Jesus did not talk to him the way you talk to Nicodemus like sitting down and saying Nicodemus you are the teacher of Israel. You understand these things. The wind comes when none of that Jesus met him right where he was. Folks sometimes you have to meet people where they are before they can receive what you have to say mean that where they are Jesus did. What is his response to this, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and that amazing no longer.

He is a nobleman he's just man, just a human being. What's next, he went his way. Meaning he believed and he obeyed what, here's my question one of this man had not believe the word remember he is not saved you. Do you think the miracle would've worked. Be careful how you answer that yes is how do you know that will look the next few verses right here verse 51 and as he was now going down, headed towards Capernaum, his servants met him and told him, saying your son lives. Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better and this said to him yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So he does the math seventh hour, 1 o'clock.

That was the time when Jesus said those words, the healing was not contingent and dependent upon this man's obedience. This man did not believe in Jesus. He simply obeyed his word and went, but the healing happened regardless God does hear the prayers of the unsaved unbeliever. God does not hear the prayers of you know know know you have to believe Jesus first before he can or what happened this man and I can show you several examples from the Bible where God actually answered the prayers before the people ever believe many times it didn't believe the Bible says in Matthew chapter 5. Stay with me.

Don't miss some I'm going somewhere with this. It says Jesus said our father in heaven, or heaven makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust means God is willing to listen to whoever will call upon him, and he will answer according to his will. He doesn't always answer we doesn't always answer your prayers. Even though your saved in James chapter 117 every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Here's my question to you. When a man on a hospital bed in India doesn't believe in Jesus Christ as God please whoever you are healed me next thing he actually gets healed, who healed him. Satan or God. God, every good gift comes from God. There's a couple in South America who who is praying for a child and they say God. Whoever you are, please give us a child. Next thing you know she gets pregnant, who send the baby Satan, on the day of judgment. No one will be able to stand before God and say, God, you did not do anything for me if you had just been good to me and answered my needs. God will interrupt them as of 000 angels roll the tapes so this man takes the miracle. But listen to how everything ends and he himself believed in his whole house household. Now he gets saved.

I want about you, but I often wondered whatever happened to this man. What happened to his family. What anything happened to that little boy as he began to grow up. Did he serve Jesus Christ. Did he become a pillar of the church in Capernaum in a Capernaum Nicole and I went there two years ago itsy village does nothing but ruins.

Now to the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. This was the place that became Jesus's headquarters in the early part of his ministry. This is where Jesus called Peter and James and John and Andrew and Matthew the tax collector. There were all called in Capernaum. This was the place where Jesus did his biggest miracles. But did you know this was also the place that Jesus cursed. Listen to what he said in Matthew 11 verse 23 and you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades to hell.

For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in sorrow mean Sodom and Gomorrah. It would have remained until this day.

But I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you. So typical of human nature.

Just like this man.

I hope I see him in heaven because I think he really got safe. I hope to talk to him in heaven.

I should say and asking the Russian were you faithful. Time and again God has come through for you and your marriage with your health with your children and your finances you're looking for church, God sent you a church God has been faithful again and again and again and you have been ungrateful again and again and again, where do you stand, what more God has to do free to go now. This is serious management God with God came through for you and has blessed you more than you deserve, but you have been ungrateful and forgetful.

Thank you so much for joining us today. And maybe you are going to a crisis in your life. I would encourage you to look to Jesus Christ, receive his salvation. For more information visit us online@clearviewbc.org and for this sermon notes visit Avedon Shaw.com