[ ] 4/27/2008 #770
NECESSITY OF FAITH
John 4:43-54
INTRODUCTION: Someone wrote: “Suffering has a way of bringing one to his knees in persistent begging.” A nobleman, driven to seek a miracle for his sick son, experienced the greatest of all miracles, the miracle of salvation. He first had to learn the necessity of faith. His son was healed and his entire family was saved. God can turn tragedies into triumphs, and crises into celebration.
I. CRISES FOR THE FATHER
A. DYING SON. (v. 46, 47) “sick and at the point of death”
B. DESPERATE SEARCH. (v. 47) “When he heard . . . he went to Him”
This desperate father was looking for someone to heal his dying son. When he heard that Jesus was in Galilee, he went searching for the miracle worker.
(Family accident)
II. CONFRONTING OF THE FATHER
A. DEFECTIVE FAITH. (v. 48)
Jesus addressed the father and the people around Him when He said: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The Galileans had witnessed the miracles Jesus did in Jerusalem during the Passover. Their faith was superficial. (compare John 2:13,23-25 with John 4:45) They were looking for something sensational, spectacular and exciting. Jesus knew their thoughts and their motives. He knew their faith was defective. The father’s faith was defective, also. He came to the Lord for he had heard Jesus was a miracle worker. Genuine faith is in the person of Christ and not in His miracles. Many people witnessed the miracles of Jesus, but they never believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. (John 12:37)
B. DEVELOPING FAITH.
1. Command of Jesus. v. 50 “Go thy way, thy son liveth”
2. Confidence in Jesus. v. 50 “believed the word that Jesus had spoken”
3. Confirmation from Jesus. v. 51-53 “Thy son liveth”
Belief in the Word of God is essential for faith to develop and grow. Faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential for salvation.
III. CONVERSION OF THE FATHER
A. SAVING FAITH. v. 53 “he himself believed”
Faith in the Words of Jesus led this man to have faith in the person of Jesus. Believing that the Bible is the Word of God is the pathway to the Savior. Faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is to receive the gift of eternal life.
B. SHARED FAITH. v. 53 “and his whole house”
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Many people have a superficial faith. Faith has no value unless it connects us to the omnipotent God. Is your faith genuine or superficial?
2. Genuine faith neither dictates nor demands its own way. True faith seeks and submits to the will of God. The nobleman believed the words of Jesus and submitted to the will of Jesus. His faith was rewarded.
3. Have you experienced the miracle of the new birth? You can if you will turn to the Lord Jesus in repentance and faith.