1. Jesus and the royal official John 4:44-54 It’s all about faith

2. Bob Hawke’s Election Promise “By 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty”

3. It’s All About Faith Hindrances to Faith The Faith of Desperation The Persistence of Faith The Obedience of Faith The Reward for Faith

4. 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.) 45 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. 46 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. 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. 51 While 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.” 53 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

5. Hindrances to Faith: prophet has no honour in his own country 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town and in his own home.” Matt 13:53-57 Familiarity Breeds Contempt Tall Poppy Syndrome “Let’s see a show” idle curiosity

6. Hindrances to Faith Matt 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Some people say "show me a miracle and I will believe", but my recent experience has reminded me that the opposite is true: "I believed God and He performed the miracle!" Hallelujah! My latest Facebook entry

7. The Faith of Desperation 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 He walked 42 kms, basically a two day walk!! No guarantee that Jesus would still be there! He was desperate – WHY!?

8. The Faith of Desperation He was utterly powerless to do anything about his problem. He had already tried everything that he could think of. There was nowhere else to go!! so what did he do!?? he begged Jesus to come, heal his son

9. The Faith of Desperation He put everything on hold, nothing else mattered! He was willing to swallow his pride, even in front of all these people! Who was the ‘great’ man? Les Mis: Napolean and the priest Would you be willing to do that, publicly?

10. My recent testimony Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the L ORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the L ORD ; let us press on to acknowledge him I read this on Sunday 22 nd July Totally desperate! On the third day, Tuesday 24 th July, God answered ! I’m acknowledging right now!

11. Persistence of Faith 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” Who was the Lord saying this to? What was the nobleman thinking!? “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Sir, I am not here to debate theology and religion, and the state of the heart of these people here - all I care about is my son. Please!!

12. Persistence of Faith Mark 10: 46 – 52 As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

13. Encounters With Jesus – a brief one! Five Little Words! “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” What would you have thought?! Aren’t you gonna come? Are you fobbing me off? Don’t you know how important I am? (Naaman) 2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.

14. Faith Defined His response?: The man took Jesus at his word Hebrews 11:6 And 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 Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

15. The Obedience of Faith His response?: Jesus says “go”, I go. Matthew 8:8-10 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

16. The Reward for Faith While 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.” 53 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.

17. The Reward for Idle Curiosity NOTHING! 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee - and they didn’t even see it!!

18. Essentials for a life-changing Encounter With Jesus FAITH ~ often spurred by desperation / need OBEDIENCE ~ Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God John 7:17

19. A fool for Christ? Who are you in this picture?

20. No Regrets! Ps 22:5

21. Finally brethren, are you.. Sitting on the premises? or Standing on the Promises? John 3:16, Heb 13:6, Prov 3:5-6 Matt 4:19, Phil 4:19, Is 54:13