Tuesday, October 22, 2013

October 23, 2013

"After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing."  John 9:6-8

As you were reminded in yesterday's post, miracles always happen in respond to a need. The more desperate the need the greater the miracle.

I want to call your attention to another common denominator in Biblical miracles - a great deed.

Just as every miracle happened in response to a need, every miracle was preceded by a deed.

What do I mean by a "deed"?

By a "deed" I am referring to an act of obedience done to demonstrate faith in Jesus.

The blind man was told to go wash in the pool. He did and when he did he was healed!

Moses was told to lift his staff and stretch it over the waters of the Red Sea. He did and the sea opened to allow hundreds of thousands to cross on dry ground!

Peter was told to step out of the boat and onto the stormy sea. He did and walked on the water!

Four friends climbed to the roof and tore a hole in it to lower their friend down to Jesus. He was converted and healed!

The stewards at the wedding were told to fill the jars with water and bring them back to Jesus. When they did He turned the water to wine.

Jesus told Lazarus' friends to unseal the tomb. When they did, Jesus walked in and spoke life back into Lazarus!

The disciples were told to cast their nets over to the other side of the boat. When they did they caught so many fish their nets were breaking!

If you care to study the miracles of the Bible (OT and NT) you will see these two dynamics at work in each miracle - there was a great need and in response to that need there was a person who obeyed and did a great deed. The great need and the great deed combined to demonstrate the healing power of Jesus.

Are you in need?

Ask God what He wants you to do about it!

October 22, 2013

"When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. "But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!" They said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  Matthew 14:15-17


Let's see, here we have thousands of hungry people and just one simple lunch. That's a problem! How do you do the math on that?

Well, when you have Jesus it helps balance the equation: 1 lad + 1 lunch + 1 Lord = leftovers!

No wonder the feeding of the 5,000 is one of the most popular and well-known miracles of the Bible!

This miracle illustrates an important truth that binds all the Biblical miracles together - every miracle came in response to a need! Search the Old Testament and the New Testament and try to find a miracle that did not happen because there was a God-sized need to be met. 

In 2013 America, we don't like having unmet needs. Most don't need to be needy. Some believe they are entitled to have their needs met. I don't enjoy being in need and I doubt if you do.

But, let's think about this. Miracles arise in response to needs and we don't like to be needy. So do you think there could be a possible connection between our aversion to needs and the rare occurrence of miracles?

While I am sure the answer to the question of miracles is more complicated than just a reluctance to admit you have a need or your unwillingness to suffer need, I am sure it is part of the reason.

A multitude to feed, a dead brother to raise, a sea that stands in the way, a man who is lame, a man who is blind and millions in a dessert needing food and water, were all desperate needs that were met by a miraculous provision from God.

Every person I know would love to receive a miracle. But not every one of them is willing to bear suffering or neediness.

If needs give rise to miracles, and if you don't want to be in need, guess what you will likely not receive?

Perhaps you need to spend some quiet with God and give this some prayerful consideration.