John 4:43–54 (ESV) 43 After the two days, he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 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.”
A Dying Son/A Desperate Father
Acts 1:8 (ESV) You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Titus 2:11 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.
5 Facts of Faith “The source for seeing is believing.” 1. Faith often looks like desperation
2. Faith is Persistent
“God is not looking for casual inquirers; he is looking for diligent seekers.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Luke 11:8-10 (NLT) 8 if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
John 4:50(ESV) Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”
Psalm 107:20 (ESV) He sent out his word and healed them.
“We dont have faith in the method, we have faith in the man.”
“We don’t have faith in the outcome; we have faith in Jesus.”
3. Faith must be properly placed. John 4:50(ESV) ...The man believed the word.
“God’s word works at a distance.”
Isaiah 55:10–11(NIV) 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Psalm 33:6 (NIV) By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
4. Faith obeys John 4:50(ESV)“And went on his way.” “Because his word travels, so does our faith.”
“Faith Works.” James 2:17 (ESV) Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
“The word doesn’t shorten the journey, but it changes the way you walk.”
5. Faith accomplished His Purposes
John 4:53–54 (ESV) 53...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.
John 20:31 (ESV) 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.
