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John 4:45-54 ESV
45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

I. STAGE ONE: HOSTLITITY
A. The first stage of belief is the one we are born into: hostility towards the Gospel.
II. STAGE TWO: CURIOSITY
A. The Galileans welcome Jesus as fans chanting to see Jesus entertain them.
B. Jesus is after our worship, not just our welcome.
III. STAGE THREE: ACTIVELY SEEKING
A. When we come to the end of ourselves, we begin to seek out Jesus.
B. Jesus offers us hope that we can cling to when it feels that hope is lost.
IV. STAGE FOUR: SURRENDER
A. Faith, that Jesus speaks into our hearts, leads to our surrender to Jesus and His Word. (Romans 4:16-18)
B. The sure sign of surrender is obedience to Jesus even when it does not make sense.
V. STAGE FIVE: CONFIRMATION (ASSURANCE)
A. As Jesus comes through on His Word, we move from hope to assurance. From clinging to promises to worshipping the promise maker.
NEXT STEPS
1. The height of our worship is determined by the depth of our belief.
2. Jesus can speak healing and hope into our lives. All we have to do is come to the end of ourselves, say the words, and ask.