FAITH!! NOT BY SIGHT, BUT SIMPLY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

August 23, 2013

FAITH!! NOT BY SIGHT, BUT SIMPLY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

Never diminish your faith in God by praying a prayer of defeat, but one of total fearlessness and determination, that God will answer your prayers.

John 4:45-53 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son:

For he was at the point of death. Then Jesus says in John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The nobleman said in verse 49, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Why did Jesus changes 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.” Reveals to me 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. Ps. 107:19-20 says Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them. But Jesus’ main purpose today, on His journey to The Via Dolorosa, was “to seek and to save that which was lost.” For 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 my friends is the work of God that ye have faith and believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 Where is the Nobleman’s faith is He a part of the mass Crowd who only believes if they see. Will you ever believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders? Heb 11:1 tells me “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The Nobleman’s plea “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

I am not with the crowd I believe I have faith. The twenty miles from Capernaum to Cana was not the only distance the nobleman had too 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/street preacher. But the adversity in this man’s life of someone He loved who’s conditions he would have been more then 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 asked what time it was when his son got better, they answered, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that it was at the exact time Jesus spoke the words to him, “Your son lives.” He then believed in Jesus, that He was the Christ, and his entire family and household also believed. So his faith and what he did after he believed is an example for each of us today.

When we receive the good news. Go first to our families “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost in your families, and the confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here.” Matt 10:6-7 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.

And if He does not speak to you directly like he did Moses, it will be through his Spirit, and Holy Word the Bible. For in Acts 27:25 it says “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was 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.

Here we observed, our Lord and Savior did what this man requested him to do, but not in the way the nobleman wished or had requested of Him. So this tells us that God’s will is to save all who call upon him, but not always in the way in which we may desire. But we must always believe and have faith that Eternal life is the free gift of God, and he has a right to give it as he pleases; and he always gives his gifts in a way in which his glory is best promoted, and our eternal interest secured.

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 friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY