FAITH ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE!!!

March 13, 2014

FAITH ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE!!!

“And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death..” John 4:46-47 (NIV)

Then Jesus says in John 4:48 (NIV) “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” The nobleman said in verse 49 “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Why did Jesus change the subject, the comment seems to be a condemnation. not a reply to his request.

“Unless you see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” But my friends what that statement tells us, that Jesus is concerned more for the Nobleman’s Salvation than for the life of the child. At this point the healing of the Child to Christ is secondary.

Healing is only a thought to the great physician. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 (NIV)
Christ knows it is our Faith that will save us from the penalty of sin and When we accept Jesus as our Savior we are accepting the call to repentance from sin.

“This is the work of Christ that ye have faith and believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (NIV) Where is the Nobleman’s faith is He a part of the Crowd who will only believe if they “see signs”

The twenty miles from Capernaum to Cana was not the only distance the nobleman had to cross, “he had to cross an even greater distance socially. He a nobleman had to lower himself to the level of the common people to seek help from a humble villager, a blue collar worker, a carpenter, and a street preacher.”

But the adversity in this man’s life of someone He loved whose conditions he would have been more than willing to change places with, if it was possible, lead him into direct contact with Jesus the Great Physician. And Jesus used it as an opportunity to not only Heal his son but to offer Him the free gift of Salvation, and Eternal life. And He accepted it.

“Go your way; your son lives.” The man literally believed the words of Jesus Christ, and started out on a lengthy journey to return to his home. The next day, while he was traveling homeward, his servants intercepted him, and told him, “Your son lives!”

When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”

So he and his whole household believed. John 4:50-53 (NIV) This is a story of faith my friends. Faith should never be sight, smell, taste or touch it is simply taking God at His word.  Acts 27:25 (NIV) tells us to “keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me”.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The bible tells us, that the nobleman believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. So this Story tells us that God’s no 1 priority is to save all who call upon him in faith.

For Peter states in 2 peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The sickness of the child became the pathway of salvation for the nobleman and his entire household. so my friends remember it is never just about us. Jesus commanded His disciples to GO into all the world and PREACH THE GOSPEL. The key word is Go. meaning Go to our families Go to our friends Go to our neighbors GO to our co-workers and go to all the world and tell them about the good news of Christ love and His soon return. 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY