The Well: Sermon Video

The religious climate in Jesus’ day was full of legalism, laws, regulations and traditions. But Jesus had another way, inviting people into a life of refreshment in His presence. We were created by God to live in intimacy with God to delight in God and experience His love. In Christ, there is assurance of forgiveness, answered prayer and salvation, which results in a peace beyond understanding.

In this passage, we see people questioning and doubting Jesus, but from different postures of heart. The religious people exposed their hardened hearts by their refusal to believe in Jesus, despite what they had seen and heard. But John the Baptist, an ambassador and disciple, brought his doubt to Jesus. As someone who was about to lay down his life for Christ, John was seeking affirmation that Jesus was who he believed Him to be, and Jesus graciously reassured him that he could believe that He was.

If we’re going to live as ambassadors in His kingdom, we cannot be friends of the world and living like the world does. When we begin to look more like Jesus and distinct from the world, persecution will come. If we are going to follow Jesus and live as His ambassadors, it will come at a cost, and we need to be prepared for that.

As the crowds gathered around Him, Jesus had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). He then called the disciples to be His ambassadors, to preach the good news of the kingdom – that the King had come, and He would one day rule and reign forever. As followers of Christ, we are also called to be ambassadors for Him, being kingdom-minded people who are aware of what we were saved from and what we have been saved to as we share the gospel with others in anticipation of His return.

God has used the cloud of witnesses, these heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews, to influence others and point generation after generation to Jesus. And even in our brokenness, running “with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,” we can be part of someone else’s story as we pursue Christ and encourage them to do the same.

When faced with an unfair fight against Goliath, David had faith to believe God for the impossible. He volunteered to fight, believing God would win the battle. Relying on Him to stand by Israel, David understood victory could be theirs, and he stepped out in faith to defeat the giant in the name of the Lord.

When the Israelites, because of their own folly and disregard of God, were being oppressed by the Midianites, they cried out to God, and God chose Gideon to help. Though Gideon did not feel qualified or strong enough to do what God told him to do, God reassured him, saying, “But I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). In the midst of his weakness and doubt, Gideon displayed his faith by obeying God, and God delivered on His promise, saving the Israelites from Midian.

Though forever branded in the Scriptures as a harlot or prostitute, Rahab is also recognized for her faith in God, which led her to hide the Israelite spies, who later spared her and her entire family from death. Not only commended for her great faith, she even became part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

By the strength given to him from God, Moses had the faith to choose God’s kingdom over this world. Moses obeyed God, stood up to Pharaoh, and eventually God led His people out of Egypt. When you are faced with difficult or everyday choices, what drives you: the allure of the world or the promises of God’s kingdom?

Joseph’s life was full of ups and downs, but he understood that God was faithful. After being sold by his jealous brothers, wrongfully accused of a crime, and put in prison, he still trusted that God was who He said He was and would do what He said he would do. Joseph knew God was faithful and was with him in the valleys and the mountaintops, and God refined him through the trials he faced. No matter what trials we experience, we can trust God with our future because He has shown Himself to be faithful.