10/4/26 - All the Way In: Week 2 -One Thing I Know- Pastor Levi Hinshaw

Point 1. What name are you answering to?
Scripture: John 9
-Right away we see the disciples were focused on the outward situation of the blind man. They were concerned about why he was blind and what caused the blindness.

What Jesus rejects in this moment is the instant assumption that suffering meant someone is to blame.
-Jesus is addressing that what matters is the power of God can be revealed through the miracle that is about to take place.

“The right question, according to Jesus, was “What is God doing in this situation and how can I get on board with it?” Now that is a much better question! In fact, it is the best possible question in the face of the brokenness and impossibility of the human situation.” - Ruth Haley Barton
-Jesus is looking for partnership, not perfection..
-He wants obedience from the blind man, in the form of going and washing in the pool.
-Have you been obedient to Jesus? Is there something he is telling you to go do?
-To them, his name was "the beggar," or "the blind man." That's the name he'd been answering to his whole life.

-What a radical change that he went through. From being seen as a beggar to someone who they couldn’t even recognize.
-Before this man ever believed in Jesus, Jesus already knew his full story. And here in verse eight we see even his neighbors, who lived in proximity to him and spent their life around him, didn’t even know who he was.
-So here he is in the beginning, being seen for his sin and humanity, to now being someone through the power of Jesus that isn’t even recognizable by people who would see him regularly.
-The blind man addresses Jesus as a man. Not God. Not Holy. Not Savior, but man. Keep this in the back of your mind.
-This is really step one in the journey of him being fully transformed.

Pt.2 / Your one thing
-They were so focused on the rules that they missed the miracle.
-Their initial and instant response was “why was he doing this, and how” not, recognizing the miracle that just took place in front of them.
-Here is the second step the man takes towards Jesus being his savior. He says “I think that he must be a prophet.”
-When he shares this, he is essentially saying that Jesus is a direct representative or messenger from God.
-The third progression of the man seeing Jesus differently!

Pt.3 Has he found you?
-The fourth time the blind man now sees and declares Jesus as Lord.
-Jesus putting mud on the mans eyes, and having him go and wash off was only part of the healing. It may have healed him physically. Giving him sight, but there was more that Jesus wanted to do for him, and for you!
-V 41. There is something that we can not miss.. Jesus is talking to the pharisees here, the religious elite and he says this.“if you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied, “but you remain guilty because you claim you can see”.
-We have to admit our weakness!
-Your story is worth telling!
-All the way from the beginning to where you are now. Jesus is working and doing miracles in your life that others are waiting to hear about. As you tell them, there will be naysayers like the pharisees in this story. But don’t let that stop you from sharing the good news!
Dwight Moody said this, and I think it speaks directly to our situation: Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength.
1. I want you to recognize the name you have been answering to.
Maybe it's a nickname, a label, or a lie someone told you a long time ago. Bring it to Jesus.
He knows your whole story.
2. What is your one thing, and who are you going to tell?
Maybe Jesus took away an addiction. Maybe he met you in a hospital room. Or maybe it's quieter than that. You used to feel alone, and now you know you're not. Your one thing doesn't have to be big and dramatic. It just has to be true.
3.Has he found you?
Jesus went looking for this man, and he's looking for you too. Have you declared him as Lord?