Faith In Times Of Crisis

Faith in Times of Crisis                                                                                                       Pg.1


Where Jesus goes
John 4:43  After the two days he left for Galilee. 44  (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

Christ went into Galilee, into the country of Galilee, but not to Nazareth, which was strictly his own country. He went among the villages, but declined going to Nazareth for a reason. Jesus himself testified, who knew the temper of his countrymen, the hearts of all men, and the experiences of all prophets, and it is this, That a prophet has no honor in his own country. Prophets ought to have honor, because God has put honor upon them and we do or may receive benefit by them. The honor due to the Lord's prophets has very often been denied them, and contempt put upon them. This due honor is more frequently denied them in their own country. Men's pride and envy make them scorn to be instructed by those who once were their fellow co-workers.

Q 1. What is this about, what’s wrong with Nazareth?
Q 2. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Q 3. Did Jesus know that he would not be effective in Nazareth?
Q 4. Does Jesus know where he is not appreciated?
Q 5. Have you ever been in that position?

A  warm welcome
John 4:44  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. 45 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47  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.
We seek any possibility of aid when we are suffering, Jesus had just arrived, and the Galileans had welcomed him because they had heard of, or had witnessed his miracles. So the matter of his visit reached all ears and a royal official came to him with a request to come and heal his son. The mans request was an honest appeal to Jesus who can read all or any hearts desire. We do not get more desperate than when we have children in danger or near to death, we will do whatever it takes to help our children. Jesus no doubt saw this in the man and we see in the following
Q 1. Why did the people in The Galilee welcome him?
Q 2. He went into Cana, in Galilee, knowing that he would be welcomed there. Why?
Q 3. Why is the royal official seeking Jesus? Why not send a servant to fetch him?
Q 4. Might it be because he remembered Jesus’ act of turning water into wine?
Q 5. Did he have a need that Jesus could answer?
Q 6. So what is it that he is asking?
Q 7. And what was Jesus’ answer?





What Jesus means                                                                                                               Pg2
John 4:48 Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 49  The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50  "Go," Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

Jesus does not tell this man that he had no faith, but that he had not enough. Although it was a general statement of the Jews of that day, describing the way their faith seemed to depend on actually seeing some sign or wondrous act which Jesus has accomplished in front of witnesses. If the official did not have faith of a sort, he would not have come from Capernaum to Cana, to beg him to heal his son.  However he was like most of us even today, we expect Jesus to come to our aid  and if he doesn’t then we are conflicted. If he had enough faith , he would have been contented with recommending his son to our Lord, without entreating him to go to Capernaum to heal him. It is not that he did not believe, it was just that at that time Jesus had performed real miracles and there were witnesses to it. This man probably thought it had to be done that way. Here we learn that our faith needs to be stronger, That we need not “Visit A Healer” to have access to what Jesus can do for us. He will do it “Long Distance” and without an intermediary.

Q 1. Do you see in Jesus’ answer as a hesitation to act ?
Q 2. Why did Jesus answer the way he did?
Q 3. And what was the response of the official ?
Q 4. Is this his second request?
Q 5. So is it a matter of how many times we make the request?

What Jesus did
John 4:51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him."
Jesus had healed him even without knowing his name, what sort of person he was or even going to minister to him, he just did it. In many instances Jesus does his healing and we do not know it, We don’t even know when or how. Many times in our lives the providence of God is working even before we ask in prayer. Jesus knows our heart, knows our intention and can work his miracle in us and we not even know it. The Father had come to Jesus and Jesus had performed the work of healing and no others in the family nor even the servants who worked for the man knew how it took place, they only knew it had happened, and they rushed to tell the father the good news. Just as do we when the goodness of God works miracles in our lives we like to let it be known, we like to tell of it. We “Go tell it on the Mountain”

Q 1. That must have been very uplifting, what do you think?
Q 2. And what was the response of the official ?
Q 3. Why did he want to know  the time?
Q 4. What effect does knowing what time it happened have on the matter?
Q 5. Do we like to have confirmation of what God is doing in our lives?



 The Jesus effect                                                                                                                  Pg.3
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and his whole household believed. 54  This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee

Once we realize that it is God who sustains us, and brings us through crisis after crisis it does make our faith stronger. But with some people it does not take a crisis, it just takes commitment and encouragement. Not all of us are the same in faith and belief. With some of us it might have taken somewhat longer to make the metamorphosis but we do not need a miracle to show us what God can do if we just trust his care for us. We owe our lives to Jesus Christ thorough whom all things come into being. Some of us by miraculous healing. Some of us just by the providence of God’s looking after us day by day, like a shepherd looks after his sheep. And all by the Grace of God. And that is what Jesus does for the Christian Believer.

What we believe
Rom 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Rom 8:30  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Rom 8:31  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
 There is no better or more loving relationship that human beings have to understand, than that of a parent and child relationship. However, once we realize that God Has a Son, and his Son is loved by him even more than you love your child, You will begin to understand that through the Grace of God he has Given Jesus’ life, and power, and privilege, so that he may own us as his children, you will then understand just how much Jesus loves you. He died for you. You are a Child Of God. He loves you ! He will heal you.

Q 1. Every Christian should already know this, but do we always act like it?
Q 2. Does it seem to you that when we are in crisis we get more of it?
Q 3. When it is shown that God has acted on our behalf, is our faith strengthened?
Q 4. Why did Jesus say what he did in vs. 48? (Go to the top of page 2)
Q 5. Does it seem to be that way to you? (Or do you just take him at his word)









Opening Prayer:                                                                                                                                  Pg.4
Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ whom we believe with all our heart is our Savior. We understand that there are people and places in this world where His presence is  anticipated, and welcomed. Our study today takes us to one of those places. We ask that no word be spoken here tonight which might be contrary to your will and that each word be blessed with your approval, or it not be spoken. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance that even though you are not present in body, you are most certainly with us in spirit. Offer them your healing Spirit as you truly are there with them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen


Our study today shows Jesus in a discourse with a very prominent man who beseeches Jesus to go with him to heal his dying son. Jesus is indeed our healer, he redeems, forgives, leads, and directs our lives if we but take the time to ask and believe that he can do as he says. All we need is to trust in him and do as he says. This man came to Jesus with an urgent need, Jesus answered his need and deepened his relationship with him. As a result the man’s son was healed and Jesus never even touched him, indeed never even saw him or even knew his name. Jesus can do miracles, we just need to trust him at his word.


Closing Prayer:
Father God,  be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power. We pray now that  we will have Your guidance as we continue in our day to day living. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN


Meditation:
In this Scripture, we glimpse how the encounter with Christ can strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” May that be our personal mission statement. God has plans for your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Our life is God’s gift to us, It may be filled with more hardships than we think we can possibly bear at times. That is when we rely on the faith we have gained in times of communion with Christ. God desires that we have a relationship with his Son, He desires for us to listen to him and learn from him, Our choice is to try to say “yes” not just when loving and trusting are easy, but even when it is very difficult and scary, and we desperately need him to respond. We are never alone. We are ever loved beyond all measure. But we need to be aware and certainly never underestimate what Jesus can do in our life if given an opportunity. He can do Miracles.                                                 The Lord will rescue his servants, become one of them.