Message 02: Will I Take Him at His Word and Receive My Miracle?

“I am wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. What I desire, I soon possess.
I have power to do as I please. I speak, and multitudes move into action to fulfill what I’ve spoken. The sound of my voice is like a stone hitting the still waters – upon impact ripples spread in all directions, doing my will.
When I travel, others carry me and my burdens.
Yet, the one that I love – my son – the fruit of my wife and I – stands at death’s door. I’ve bought the best doctors to my home in hopes of cure. The rarest medicines and the newest treatments all have come to no avail.
I’ve offered vast sums of my wealth to the doctor, magician or shaman that can heal my beloved boy, yet without results.
What’s this I hear? The man who turned ordinary water into extraordinary wine is over in Cana? Prepare the camels, pack the supplies – for travel we must, and waste no further time!
Son, I am going to see Jesus. I believe He can help you, I’ll bring him here! Stay alive son! Fight! Help will be here soon! Don’t give up! I will hurry – but I may not see you again on this earth, don’t let go! I am going to see Jesus! I love you, son, hold on! Give him the time he needs to get here. I must go now…
Hurry, faster! WE must see Jesus! My son must be saved! Why must it take so long?! Don’t stop to water the camels, we can get new camels if need be!
Is that Cana? Yes! Now, where is this Jesus? In that house? Yes!
Jesus, I thought that I’d never get here! I need your help… only you can do what needs to be done…”

TODAY, we see what happens when desperate men take Christ at His word. Turn to John 4:46


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. 47When 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 miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
49The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53Then the father realiZed that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. 54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.” John 4:46-54

In verse 46 – Jesus returns to the town of his first miracle – the changing of the ordinary water into the extraordinary wine! CANA will be the location for his second miracle.

One thing that is true in the realm of the Spirit is that miracles happen much more frequently in places of faith than in places of doubt! Why do some Christians experience a great many miracles and others none – largely because of the issue of faith:
• Do I expect miracles?
• Or am I cynical, jaded and doubtful?

Your level of expectations has a huge impact on results! Do you expect God to show up and work?

For decades I doubted. I was inculcated by the worldly thinking that had invaded the church. God was in a 20th century American box. But, I was wrong. Dead wrong.

My Jesus is a Supernatural Jesus. And the question of miracles, signs and wonders is not IF can do them, it is IF I will open my eyes to be able to see Him at work!

Verse 46 continues by saying:
“And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum…”

• Royal official refers to a nobleman. Literally one who is a ‘little king’ possessing a large estate, wealth and power.
• He lived in Capernaum – A distance of about 15 miles – or a day’s travel from Cana.
• His son was terribly sick – what was wrong we don’t know, but it was clearly life-threatening.

Now, look at verse 47…
47When 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.

First of all – this verse tells us that Jesus’ reputation had spread! The water into wine story had permeated the Galilee region! Even to the highest levels of society!

So, the man rapidly travels to Cana – he is a man on a mission! His son was hovering near death, and the nobleman does something he isn’t used to doing: He begs!

There is a hugely important principle here: The greatest people in the world, upon meeting face to face with Christ, must become beggars! His glory is such, that humility and brokenness are the only proper response!

In Luke 18:17 Jesus says…
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17

Empty yourself of pride, arrogance and strength, and come to Christ – come to Him in simple childlike faith! Come with your need! Come with your brokenness, and you’ll be received!

Jesus’ response in verse 48…
48“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

It would be great if people would come to faith without the need for the miraculous signs. But they won’t. Why? Because we need to be convinced of the reality of the Kingdom of God! We need to see beyond the material world – we need to have our eyes opened to the realities of the Spirit realm.

That’s one of the reasons that everywhere the Kingdom is preached, it is authenticated by signs and wonders. It’s one of the reasons that we must get into the river of the Holy Spirit and begin to operate in faith dimensions of signs and wonders.

The story continues – look at verse 49:
49The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Come! Quickly! Before he dies! The nobleman is insistent – there isn’t time to waste! There isn’t time to delay! And from a human perspective, he’s right. We live in space and time – we live in what appears to be a limited universe. What happens today has meaning! But, the Kingdom is not limited to time and space! The Kingdom can make things happen!

Look at verse 50: Seven Words that Change the World:
50Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”

How simple. How calming. How utterly amazing. Jesus doesn’t need to ‘go’ – what needs to be done will be done. He speaks with authority. He speaks with confidence. He speaks faith and He speaks truth.

“You don’t need to worry. You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to fret. Go home. You boy will be just fine!”

That’s the Word of the Lord. The same voice that spoke Creation into being – speaks to the nobleman.

A lot of people think that the Bible is the Word of God. But it isn’t. The Bible points us to the Word of God – the Word of God is Jesus Christ! Listen to John 1:1…

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3

When Christ speaks – He is speaking the Word of the Lord. Just as Creation came as a result of Christ’s Word – you can count on anything that Christ speaks to become reality!

Look again at verse 50…
“The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

This guy is a better Christian than most of us. He hears the Word. He takes the Word to heart. And he heads home. Do you get this: He believes the Word of the Lord! It is settled in this nobleman’s heart that what Christ has spoken will BE!
• Are you living in this level of faith and confidence?
• Do you take Christ at His Word?
• Do you take the promises spoken to you by Christ to heart?
• Do these promises silence your fears, settle your anxieties, steer your lives?
• Or are you still living like mere men and women – tossed and swayed by every little problem of life?
• It’s time to take Christ at His Word!

Look what happens next – here’s the miracle:
51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.

Something had happened! And the servants of the nobleman knew that he’d want to know! So they left Capernaum and headed towards Cana – and met their master on the road!

“Master – the boy is alive! Master – we don’t know what happened, but suddenly, he got up out of his bed, the color returned to his face! He said: “I’m hungry!” and he is alive and well!”

Overwhelmed with joy – the nobleman asks – “When?” – Look at vs. 52…

"When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.”

Here’s the proof that the Word of the Lord is supernatural and powerful: The boy was healed at the exact moment Jesus told the man he would be!

Christ doesn’t need to be physically present for miracles to happen! For it wasn’t Christ who DID the healing – it was the Spirit of Christ! Whereas Jesus was limited to a physical body, the Holy Spirit isn’t!

Don’t you get this? This is why Jesus would later say…
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

You see – the “Counselor” is the Holy Spirit – and when the Holy Spirit comes, He comes to all people who will receive Him and it doesn’t matter where you are – He is with you! He comes to dwell in you by faith – and then He empowers you to do what needs to be done!

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Because of the Holy Spirit living inside of us – we are empowered to do ‘even greater things…’ than Jesus did! For we can be in Rancho Cucamonga, or Detroit, or Tijuana – and we can tap into the power of God through the Holy Spirit living in us!

Oh, dear church – rise up! Rise up and live in this wonderful power. There is anointing and power available to each of you – by faith – you can have it! You can walk in this same supernatural power that Christ did – by believing and receiving the Word of the Lord into your lives!

Stop doubting. Stop fearing. Stop limiting yourself.
Come alive. Come into the power. Come into the Presence and you’ll never be the same!

That’s what happened to this nobleman and his family, servants and household. Look at verse 53…

“So he and all his household believed.”

What was the result of Christ’s miracle? FAITH! These people were never the same! These people were touched by the Supernatural Jesus! And their lives were never the same again!

How could they ever be the same again? They’d be touched by the Presence of Almighty God! Here’s the good news: You and I can have this same touch!

Who here needs to be touched by God? Will you receive Him at His Word?

Look at verse 54:
"This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.”

Signs always have a purpose. “FOOTHILL BLVD, 1 mile” – Tells us what is coming. The signs of miracles, healings, tongues, prophecies, words of knowledge – all point of something that is coming: The Kingdom of God!

Oh – dear ones – the Kingdom is coming! The Kingdom of God is coming – rest assured! He is coming. Christ is coming!

The question: Will I believe Him at His Word and receive my miracle – or – will I stay in the flesh and miss out!

The signs of a massive world-wide revival are clear.
Open your eyes, people, see with new eyes. Hear with new ears.
Look at our world – it is ripe for the Kingdom!
Now, look inward – ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth – ‘am I ready?’ – ‘do I believe in the Supernatural Jesus’? Are my hands full of worldly concerns – or have I emptied them, in preparation of the Promises of God being fulfilled? Am I ready?

Fall to your knees, people. Cry out to Christ – Cry out for His Kingdom! Cry out for His power! Put aside your pride. For if you hold on to your pride and dignity you miss out – but if you’ll become a beggar before God – you’ll receive the miracle!

Take Christ at His Word – and receive!