John 4:46-50 – “Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine.  In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick.  ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.  ⁴⁸ So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” ⁴⁹ “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” ⁵⁰ Jesus told him, “Go home; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.”

As I read, prayed, and considered the Word of God today, the simplicity of faith staggered me.   Staggered me?  Yes, because of the extent we complicate it in contrast to biblical examples of exercised faith.

In John 4, we have the account of the synagogue official who had a sick child and came to Jesus for help.  Interestingly, after his request, Jesus said in verse 48, “…Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe!”    The official was undeterred and said, “Sir, the official said to Him, come down before my child dies.” He believed that healing and help were within Jesus’s person and power.

Jesus responded to his persistence and expectation in verse 50 – “Go home; your son will live.  The man believed the word (Rhema) that Jesus spoke to him and set off for home.”

He had come to bring Jesus to his problem.  He believed that if Jesus came to his problem, healing would result.   Jesus chided him and them for seeking signs.  The man persisted, showing his confidence was not in the external but in Jesus.  Jesus spoke the word (Rhema), and he received it.

There is a simple pattern that reveals the simplicity of faith.   

• He believed Jesus could. 
• He came to Jesus with his request. 
• He presented his petition and persisted.
• He heard the Word (Rhema) Jesus spoke.
• He believed the word (Rhema).
• He acted upon that word (Rhema).

At that moment, nothing had changed in the natural.  But because he heard, believed, and responded, God’s power went before him and performed the miracle.  Because he heard, believed, and acted upon the Word (Rhema) of Jesus, he received.

He did not see any visible change but trusted Jesus. He came to bring Jesus to his problem.  Instead, he left his problem with Jesus and acted as if what Jesus said was a realized reality he received.

We tend to be led by what we see and feel.  We trust what we see more than what Jesus says.  We insert our understanding, our definition, and our evaluation.  This man heard, believed, obeyed, and received.

This is not a formula but a pattern.  We have a problem or need.   It is unfixable by human ability.  We bring it to Jesus and petition.  He speaks by the Spirit or the Word.  It is at that juncture that there are two roads before us.

We continue to petition, convinced we have to get Him to our problem, road one.  We take Him at His Word and act like He is telling the truth, road two.

Let’s first come to Him and make our request known to Him.   Let’s hear Him.   Once we’ve heard Him, let’s believe His Word and act upon it.  Obey Him.  The biblical promise is the fulfillment of His promise.

Remove the confidence in or confusion of human sight or emotions from the equation.  Decide to believe and obey explicitly, and faith that came as a seed from God will produce the fruit desired.  Faith received and released to God is expressed in simple obedience.

I pray that the LORD will help each of us embrace the simplicity of Faith and put our total trust in God and His Word!