Faith Is
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Sometimes, life can be full of challenges and difficulties. We are confronted with many things that we can resolve through some sort of tangible means( like writing a check or pulling out a credit card or exercising out authority whether in the workplace or from some affiliation of some sort.)
But what about when you resources does not matter? Whether you pullout your Centurion “Card from Amex Black Card that requires you to charge 100000 to250000 per year to be eligible.
But even in our capitalistic society that is built on conflict, whether in the stock market, or our political affiliations, or whatever, there comes a time in all our lives when our resources will become useless.
it is in the extremes of life challenges will experience this. whether its a close friend, relative, spouse, or even a child. My heart goes out to any parent who has ever experience that.
There are some things that money, prestige, and power can’t buy. and it is in the absence of these resources that John teaches us about genuine faith.
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Believing throughout the time we have on this earth, genuine faith is a process that is lived out in our everyday lives.
Thats why when people get married, the preached spells out to the couple the extremes of life of honoring your vowels whether better or worst, richer or poorer, sickness or in health until death do you part.
We are introduced to John 4:46-54 where
Jesus return to Cana from Judea where he made the water into wine, and we are confronted by a rich man who has a son who is sick from a distance.
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.
Some believes he is Herod’s business manager named Chuza from Luke 8:3
and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
But this man is a man of means, resources, wealth, a Basilikos someone befitting of a king or of kingly dignity.
It was because his son was near death(v47) he would travel approximately 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana to make a request according to the NASB
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.
Pain will make you plea! When your dead Presidents
George Washington -$1 bill,
Thomas Jefferson on the- $2 bill,
Abraham Lincoln -$5
Andrew Jackson -$20, and
Ulysses S. Grant -$50.
Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin were never presidents, but they are featured on the $10 and $100 bill
None of them could make their plea to Jesus for this.
It does not matter whether your rich or poor
black or white, young or old, Pain and suffering can make us beg.
Note: 2 people are suffering, the Nobleman and his son, but the nobleman leaves his home, his wife, his suffering son and travels 20 miles to beg to Jesus to come travel back with him 20 miles to heal his son.
He had heard about Jesus turning water into wine as he hoped that if only jesus can come to my house and heal my son, all would be well.
He might be a little king, but he is a father who is petitioning on behalf of his son to Jesus. Just like us, We will do anything for our /children. No matter how far gone they are, a parent loves their child no matter what stage of life their in. Were just like this man begging Jesus to heal our son’s and daughters.
Lets hear Jesus response to our begging.
Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”
This is the more accurate translation. Jesus responds in the plural not just to the nobleman, but to the people in John 4: 45
Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
Jesus had become their “flavor of the month,” and they wanted their equivalent of a rock festival to take place. Their interest was not religious in the least. It was not the Messiah they were focused on but a wonder-working figure who would bring excitement into their lives. The “life” they wanted was earthly, centering on powerful wonders, rather than spiritual, centering on faith-decision.
These dudes knew what Jesus did, with the water into wine, so as the man is making his plea, there are others who are standing there with him wanting to see Jesus star in his own circus act….…We want to be entertained, thats why there is so much in the political world of #45, or in the religious world of preachers who play god, or in the sporting world where Stefon Diggs says it best, “ Are you not Entertained?”
R. Kent Hughes
Even today those who are constantly seeking for signs and wonders and miracles to confirm their faith may be missing the intent of such things—to know Jesus himself! If we focus on sensationalism—miracles and signs—our focus is not on Christ himself who alone is sufficient.
In verse 48, Jesus was not buying to the request of the nobleman or the rest of the crowd. Jesus is reluctant to the nobleman request, and responds reluctantly, but is looking for genuine faith.
This is the opportunity for Grace but it only rides on Genuine faith….…This father will not stop……
The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
I can hear him now singing the ol Hymn
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by. Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
John: Verse by Verse The Official’s Developing Faith (4:49–50)
The official has a single focus with one concern, the life-threatening situation with his son, and so responds simply, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” The time is short, and his desperation gets greater and greater. This important official with all his authority humbles himself and speaks to Jesus as a servant to his “lord” (Greek: kyrie, “sir”). He is no longer a powerful government figure but a scared father.
Point 1- Faith is taking Jesus at His word.
The key is the present-tense command in verse 50, “Go [on your way],” followed by a promise demanding faith, “Your son will live.”
The father/official must have faith that Jesus’ words have healing powers and trust that his son has been healed from a distance.
He is asked to put feet to his faith and go on his way, trusting that Jesus has indeed healed his boy.
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Before you get on the road to faith, you have to put your feet to faith. The Yellow pages from the 70’s shows two fingers walking…they would say, “ Let your fingers do the walking”
Jesus healed the boy from long distance……They went because His word created all of creation, His word always comes to past….…Ggo to Genesis 1
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
When the man came to Jesus it was an uphill journey, but now He has met the Master He is on the other side going down hill.
John: Verse by Verse Healing and Faith (4:51–54)
In verse 51 the man proves the reality of his faith in Jesus by “going down” (omitted by NIV) to Capernaum. The Sea of Galilee was 700 feet below sea level, so the trip would have been downhill all the way.
Point 2- Faith is when Jesus becomes flesh!
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.” 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.
It was the same time Jesus told him to Go.
Brother Yun
Themes: Conversion; Miracles
“In China, the greatest miracles we see are not the healings or other things, but lives transformed by the gospel. We believe we are not called to follow signs and wonders, but instead the signs and wonders follow us when the gospel is preached. We don’t keep our eyes on the signs and wonders; we keep our eyes on Jesus.”
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Is Jesus real to you and me? Has He become flesh? Share how you and I have see the Glory of Jesus in our pain and in victory.
There is a old church song by Rev Charles Nicks and the St James Mass Choir
You should be a witness
You oughta tell somebody
Don’t be Ashamed to be a Witness for the Lord.
When Christ becomes real to you, you can’t keep it to yourself.
Preach out from book of lists…and share the gospel