Faith in Crisis: Turning to God for Rescue
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of what to do in case of an emergency, drawing from the story of the royal official in John 4:46-54. This narrative highlights the importance of faith and reliance on God during life's crises. The official's journey to Jesus, seeking healing for his dying son, serves as a powerful reminder of the necessity to turn to God when faced with situations beyond our control.
The first step in an emergency is to run—not away from the problem, but towards a place of refuge, a "muster station," where we can find safety and support. For many, the church serves as this refuge, a place where believers can gather, find encouragement, and be reminded of God's promises. It's crucial to remember that while we may feel overwhelmed, God is already working on our behalf, orchestrating solutions even when we cannot see them.
The story also teaches us about the reliability of God's resources. Jesus' return to Galilee signifies that God offers us multiple opportunities to experience His grace and intervention. Even when we feel we've missed our chance, God comes again, ready to meet our needs. This reliability is further emphasized by Jesus' reputation for showing up just in time, transforming situations and turning despair into hope.
Moreover, the narrative challenges us to remain steadfast despite perceived rejection. The official's persistence, despite Jesus' initial response, illustrates the importance of unwavering faith. We must trust in God's timing and power, even when it seems like He is delaying. Our understanding of God's presence and power may be limited, but His ability to act is not.
Finally, we are reminded to rely on God's ability to rescue. The official received the blessing of his son's healing before it was revealed to him, teaching us that God's work often precedes our awareness. Our role is to walk in faith, trusting that God is already at work, and to share the transformative power of Christ with those around us.
Key Takeaways:
- Run to Your Refuge: In times of crisis, it's essential to run to a place of spiritual refuge, like the church, where you can find support and encouragement. This is not about escaping problems but seeking God's presence and guidance. [41:21]
- God's Reliability: God's resources are reliable, and He often gives us multiple opportunities to experience His grace. Even if we feel we've missed our moment, God comes again, ready to meet our needs. [48:24]
- Remain Steadfast: Despite perceived rejection or delay, remain steadfast in faith. Trust in God's timing and power, knowing that He is always working on our behalf, even when we cannot see it. [55:43]
- Remote Access to God: You don't need to be physically present to experience God's power. Just as the official misunderstood the need for Jesus' physical presence, we can tap into God's power through prayer, no matter where we are. [01:01:04]
- Rely on God's Rescue: Trust that God is working on your behalf, even before you see the results. Walk in faith, knowing that the blessing is often received before it is revealed, and share the transformative power of Christ with others. [01:04:33]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [35:37] - Introduction to John 4
- [38:28] - What to Do in an Emergency
- [41:21] - Run to Your Refuge
- [48:24] - God's Reliable Resource
- [51:46] - Jesus' Reputation
- [54:50] - Remain Despite Rejection
- [55:43] - Trust in God's Timing
- [56:29] - Misunderstanding God's Presence
- [01:01:04] - Remote Access to God's Power
- [01:04:33] - Rely on God's Rescue
- [01:12:07] - Call to Reconnection
- [01:17:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 4:46-54
Observation Questions:
1. What prompted the royal official to seek out Jesus, and what was his initial request? [35:37]
2. How did Jesus respond to the official's plea, and what was the official's reaction to Jesus' words? [38:28]
3. What was the significance of the official's journey back home after speaking with Jesus? [41:21]
4. How did the official's household react upon learning about the healing of his son? [01:04:33]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the official's persistence in seeking Jesus teach us about faith during times of crisis? [55:43]
2. How does the story illustrate the concept of God's timing and the importance of trusting in it, even when it seems delayed? [56:29]
3. In what ways does the narrative challenge our understanding of God's presence and power, especially when we feel distant from Him? [01:01:04]
4. How does the official's experience demonstrate the idea that God's blessings can be received before they are fully revealed? [01:04:33]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent crisis in your life. Did you run towards God as your refuge, or did you try to handle it on your own? How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [41:21]
2. Consider a time when you felt you missed an opportunity for God's intervention. How can the idea of God's reliability and His ability to "come again" encourage you today? [48:24]
3. Have you ever felt rejected or ignored by God during a difficult time? How can the story of the official help you remain steadfast in your faith despite perceived rejection? [55:43]
4. How can you practice "remote access" to God's power through prayer in your daily life, especially when you feel distant from Him? [01:01:04]
5. Think of a situation where you are waiting for God's rescue. How can you walk in faith, trusting that God is already at work, even if you haven't seen the results yet? [01:04:33]
6. Identify someone in your life who might benefit from hearing about the transformative power of Christ. How can you share your faith story with them this week? [01:04:33]
7. What practical steps can you take to make your church or small group a "muster station" for others seeking refuge and support in times of crisis? [41:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeking Refuge in Crisis
In times of crisis, it is crucial to seek a place of spiritual refuge where you can find support and encouragement. This is not about escaping problems but about seeking God's presence and guidance. The story of the royal official in John 4:46-54 illustrates this beautifully. When faced with the dire situation of his dying son, the official did not run away from his problem but instead ran towards Jesus, seeking His help. This act of faith serves as a reminder that in our own emergencies, we should turn to God and the community of believers for strength and support. The church can serve as a "muster station," a place where we can gather, find encouragement, and be reminded of God's promises. Even when we feel overwhelmed, we can trust that God is already working on our behalf, orchestrating solutions even when we cannot see them. [41:21]
Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."
Reflection: Think of a current crisis or challenge you are facing. How can you actively seek God's presence and guidance in this situation today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Reliability
God's resources are reliable, and He often gives us multiple opportunities to experience His grace. The narrative of Jesus' return to Galilee signifies that God offers us these chances, even when we feel we've missed our moment. The royal official's encounter with Jesus shows that God is ready to meet our needs, transforming situations and turning despair into hope. This reliability is further emphasized by Jesus' reputation for showing up just in time. We are reminded that God's timing is perfect, and His resources are always available to us. Even when we feel like we've missed our chance, God comes again, ready to meet our needs and offer His grace. [48:24]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt you missed an opportunity. How can you trust in God's reliability and look for new opportunities to experience His grace today?
Day 3: Remaining Steadfast in Faith
Despite perceived rejection or delay, it is important to remain steadfast in faith. The royal official's persistence, despite Jesus' initial response, illustrates the importance of unwavering faith. We must trust in God's timing and power, knowing that He is always working on our behalf, even when we cannot see it. Our understanding of God's presence and power may be limited, but His ability to act is not. This story challenges us to remain steadfast, trusting that God is working behind the scenes, orchestrating solutions even when we cannot see them. [55:43]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you feel God is delaying. How can you practice steadfast faith and trust in His perfect timing today?
Day 4: Accessing God's Power Remotely
You don't need to be physically present to experience God's power. The royal official initially misunderstood the need for Jesus' physical presence, but Jesus demonstrated that His power transcends physical boundaries. We can tap into God's power through prayer, no matter where we are. This understanding encourages us to rely on prayer and faith, knowing that God's power is not limited by our physical location. We are reminded that God's presence is always accessible, and we can experience His transformative power in our lives, regardless of where we are. [01:01:04]
Jeremiah 23:23-24 (ESV): "Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel distant from God. How can you intentionally seek His presence and power through prayer today?
Day 5: Relying on God's Rescue
Trust that God is working on your behalf, even before you see the results. The royal official received the blessing of his son's healing before it was revealed to him, teaching us that God's work often precedes our awareness. Our role is to walk in faith, trusting that God is already at work, and to share the transformative power of Christ with those around us. This story reminds us that God's rescue is often already in motion, and we are called to rely on His ability to save and transform our lives. [01:04:33]
Isaiah 65:24 (ESV): "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you need God's rescue. How can you walk in faith today, trusting that God is already at work in this situation?
Quotes
1. "There are three things that we do in case of an emergency Deacon Collins. Number one is we run. We don't stop and try to figure out what it is because it is an emergency. And running just simply says whatever is happening is too difficult for me to handle by myself. So my friends. The first recourse is to run. I'm talking to somebody right now that that keeps dirtying up your hands thinking that you can fix it by yourself. And if you knew like I knew and you saw how the devil was planning to wreak havoc in your life instead of hanging around sometime you would just run." ([00:40:27] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "Designed muster stations a muster station is a place where you go to meet before you come back into the job so at the front of the job and at the rear of the job are two muster stations so what happens is when you hear the alarm you run and you retreat to a refuge you retreat to a safe place. Oh y 'all still looking at me. Strange can I tell you the only reason I came to this church today is because the church is my refuge the church is my muster station is there anybody here that been catching the hail all week long and you couldn't wait to get to your muster station you couldn't wait to get to a place where believers put their arms around you and remind you that all hope is not lost in case of emergency." ([00:41:21] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "This official came to Jesus because he had an emergency situation. His child was at the point of death. I don't know nobody in here that understands what an emergency is, but I think that we can go ahead and surmise that this is not anything minor, that this is an emergency. I needed to say that because sometimes I tell my children, call me in case of emergency, but sometimes they'll trivialize the call and call me and say, Daddy, did you know we're out of milk? Boy, that ain't no emergency. I wanted you to call me if there was something outside of your control. Is there anybody here that can testify that the Lord is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can have? Ask or think." ([00:43:44] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "What do I do in case of an emergency? I love the Bible when our text opens up with the word, therefore. Whenever you see the word, therefore, you need to investigate what it's there for. It's reminding us that this story didn't really start at verse number 46. If you read your Bible, it says, You'll find out that Jesus makes a surprise visit to Samaria. And when he gets to Samaria, which is pagan country, the people are so impacted by what Jesus is doing that they ask Jesus, Can you hang out with us for a little while? That's what's happening in verses 43 through 45. Watch this. After receiving the gospel, the Samaritans, the Samaritans did not want Jesus to go. I wish I had a witness here that could testify that there's something about receiving the gospel. It's something about walking in the church in a hopeless situation and getting a word that can hold you. That will keep you coming back to the house of the Lord." ([00:44:43] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "You don't see it there. The Bible says, but he came again unto Galilee. I need to say that again because you missed it. He came again unto Galilee. One more time for the hearing impaired. You'll get it in a minute. He came again unto Galilee. That sounds so good to me. I'm going to say it one more time. He came again unto Galilee. That's for the person in here who thought that you missed your moment. Who thought that you missed out on your opportunity with God. That thought because the Lord showed up and you missed him that you were never going to find him again. But note that the Bible says he came again. I was sick and I missed him. I missed out on an opportunity for healing, but he came again. I was depressed and about to throw in the towel, but the Lord came again. Is there anybody here that can testify? I might have missed him the first time, but he came again." ([00:48:41] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "It's interesting. That Jesus is not. He's not showing up in Cana for the first time. The Bible says he came again. I wish there was a witness that could testify to the fact that Jesus ain't blessing me for the first time. No, he came again. That Jesus ain't bringing me out for the first time. That this ain't my first rodeo with God. I done been into the hospital under the doctor's knife. This ain't my first time with my back up against God. I done been into the wall, but I can testify that the Lord came again. If you're going to have an emergency situation, you need a resource that's reliable. He came again." ([00:50:41] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "Is it your testimony that God didn't bless you one time, but that he keeps on blessing you? That gospel singer John P. Keith said, In fact, every time I turn around, The Lord is making a way for me. Oh, you acting like you know something about that. That every time I got hungry, The Lord fed me. And every time I got thirsty, The Lord gave me something to drink. And every time a door closed in my faith, The Lord opened up a door. Is there anybody here that can testify? The Lord returned." ([00:52:43] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "That this Jesus that came back, Has a reputation of showing up in the nick of time. You don't believe me. Let me show you some Bible. If you read John chapter 2, You'll discover there was a wedding in Cana. And the Bible says, That the wedding couple ran out of wine. And Jesus showed up at the nick of time. And he turned water into wine. What am I trying to tell you? That God can take nothing, And turn it into something. I know you want your neighbor, To think you all of that in a bag of chips, And a diet Pepsi on the side. But the truth of the matter is, You were nobody when the Lord found you. But the Lord took a nobody, And made him a somebody. Can I get a witness here? That when I look back over my life, I give God praise because, The Lord turned me into something else." ([00:52:13] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "In case of an emergency, remain despite your perceived rejection. Finally, number three. Rely on his ability to rescue rely on his ability to rescue watch this the blessing y 'all was received before it was revealed y 'all be seated you making me nervous the blessing was received before it was revealed how do you know pastor the Bible says Jesus tells the father go your child lives he travels for a day's journey and he gets there and says what time did the child arise they tell the father the child got up yesterday at the seventh hour which means that while the man was walking home that God had already healed his child I thought I'd have no help than that I'm praying God is already working it out I just haven't got to the blessing get is there anybody that while God is working it out that you'll commit to walking it out that why God was healing the man was walking that why God was raising his son the man was walking the man was walking you rely on his ability to rescue" ([01:04:50] (137 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "As the cruisers take the floor, there's somebody in this house that is in an emergency situation. You're in a situation You need a refuge. You need a muster station. You need a place where Christ can meet you and develop you and grow you. You're in an emergency situation that you don't even know. That's you today. And you want to be connected to him and to his will for your life. Will you come?" ([01:10:40] (85 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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