Stepping out in faith to obey what you sense from the Holy Spirit is easier said than done. You will have questions as you try to follow the Spirit’s leading. Will the Lord take care of me? What if I did not clearly hear the message from the Lord? The Lord’s plan sounds crazy, what will people think? In the middle of these questions you must prayerfully decide to either move forward or not. In my own life, stepping out in faith was scary but rewarding and faith building.
A Government Official Believes and Obeys
In our story today there was a man who came to Jesus because his son was dying, and Jesus was the only option. John 4:46 As Jesus 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. [1]
It is 17 miles between Cana and Capernaum. This was before the internet and phone. The official would have heard that Jesus was in Capernaum through the rumor mill. As he walked, he may have wondered if he could even find Jesus let alone get to speak to Him. Would his son die before he could reach Jesus? Would Jesus be willing to come and lay hands on his son?
The government official found Jesus and made his request. He begged Jesus to come with him to Capernaum. Instead, Jesus simply told him that his son will live. The Government official steps out in faith and believed Jesus and obeyed Him without question and returned home.
John 4:51 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.[2]
Where are You to Believe and Obey?
The government official received his request and more. His whole household became believers and his faith was deepened. As you read this, perhaps the Lord is prompting you to take a step of faith that seems way beyond what you think you can do. I believe the Lord places us in those situations, so we have to depend on the Lord like no other time in our life.
The Lord gave Joshua this verse as he succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites. Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” [3] May you be strong and courageous as you step out in faith to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.
To hear how the government official had faith to believe and obey, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-a-government-official
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.