Walking By Faith When It Isn’t Easy

John 4:43–54 (NLT)

43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee.

44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.

45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.

46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”

50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.

52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”

53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

INTRODUCTION:

I- SEEK JESUS FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR NEED (JOHN 4: 46 – 47).

John 4:46–47 (NLT)

46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

A- Allow the works of Jesus in the past to inspire confidence in human for the present and future. (John 4:43-45) (John 14:8 – 14)

(John 4:43-45)

John 4:43–45 (NLT)

43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee.

44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.

45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.

John 14:8–14 (NLT)

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.

11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.

14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

illustration of the unknown Cliff – “is anyone else out there?”

B- Identify the need in your life. (John 4:46)

John 4:46 (NLT)

46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

1- Be specific.

Blind man in Jericho (Luke 18:35 – 43)

Luke 18:35–43 (NLT)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.

36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.

37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.

38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,

41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”

43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

a. What is the need in your life? Salvation? Renewal?

C- Do what is necessary to get to Jesus. (John 4:47).

John 4:47 (NLT)

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

1- The nobleman walked for over 20 miles and fought through crowds, he forsook cried and humbled himself.

2- How far will you need to go?

a. Go the distance needed to meet with Jesus.

b. Do not let people stop you from getting to Jesus (John 21:22).

John 21:22 (NLT)

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

c. Seek in earnest for God’s help.

(Matthew 7:7 – 8)

Matthew 7:7–8 (NLT)

7 “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.

8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

(James 4: 2b)

James 4:2b (NLT)

2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

The woman and the wicked judge. (Luke 18:1 – 7)

Luke 18:1–7 (NLT)

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.

3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,

5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ”

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

II- SURRENDER TO JESUS – LET HIM DO IT HIS WAY (JOHN 4:48 – 50).

John 4:48–50 (NLT)

48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”

50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

A- What will it take for you to believe? (John 4:48)

John 4:48 (NLT)

48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

1- Faith does not require to see spectacular in order to trust.

Do you require your loved-ones to do the spectacular to trust their love? Why requirement of God?

Note what Faith is: (Hebrews 11:1).

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

B- Recognize who Jesus is and his power his power. (John 4:49).

John 4:49 (NLT)

49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”

1- He is Lord and has the power to meet your need. (Matthew 28:19) (Philippians 2:9–11)

Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

C- Move out in faith, allowing Jesus to take care of the things his way. (John 4:30)

John 4:30 (NLT)

30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

1- Our problem is that we want to tell him how to do it.

Abraham and Sarah wanted to help God provide an heir. (Genesis 16:1 – 4; Genesis 17:16 – 21)

Genesis 16:1–4 (NLT)

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.

3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.

Genesis 17:16–21 (NLT)

16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”

18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

III- STEP INTO A DEEPER WALK OF FAITH WITH JESUS (JOHN 4: 51 – 54).

John 4:51–54 (NLT)

51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.

52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”

53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

A- Keep on walking in the way you have been called to – even when no assurance can be found.

1- It is safer following the directions of God and forging your own path.

Personal experience: when I got lost on hunting trip.

2- It may be some distance before the answer comes. (Psalm 30:5).

Psalm 30:5 (NLT)

5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

B- Open your eyes to the handiwork of the Lord. (John 4:51b–53 a).

John 4:51b–53a (NLT)

51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.

52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”

53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

1- The careful to acknowledge the source of the miracle.

a. Privately and publicly

C- Allow his work to lead you to deeper faith and trust. (John 4:53 b–54).

John 4:53b–54 (NLT)

53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

CONCLUSION: