October 25, 2013

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:16-21

You serve a powerful God!

How powerful is your God?

More powerful than your wildest imagination.

According to Mark Batterson in "The Circle Maker", astrophysicists calculate that it is 15.5 billion light-years to the edge of our universe. We know light travels 186,000 miles/second x 60 seconds/minute x 60 minutes/hour x 24 hours/day x 365 days/year = 5,865,696,000,000 miles/year. That's ONE light year and we are talking about a universe 15.5 BILLION times larger larger than that!

That is a LOT of zeros! It is an unimaginable number! But it just begins to illustrate the vast difference between what you are able to imagine and what God is able to imagine AND do! This should help you with insight on what St. Paul means when he states that God is able to do more than you can imagine! He can imagine more than you imagine and to DO more than you can imagine. Not only are God's thoughts higher than your thoughts, His math is much higher than yours!

So, when God does something you couldn't imagine or does something you imagined but in a way you never imagined you call it a miracle.

A miracle is just a glimpse at the difference between who God is and who you imagined Him to be. Could it  be that one of the purposes of miracles is to stretch your imagination and your imagining of God?

Imagine that!

Please!

October 24, 2013

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”  John 4:39-42

Who doesn't love a good miracle?

Who couldn't use a miracle?

Over the past few days we have learned a couple of things about miracles. 

First, miracles happen in response to a great need. If you are struggling with a big need you are a candidate for a miracle!

Second, miracles happen as a result of a great deed. When you do what God has asked you to do He will do what only He can do.

Today I want to make another point about miracles. While we like the outward miracles that we can see happen, but some of the most effective miracles are those that happen in the heart of a person and are out of view.

As an example of this point, I point to the Samaritan woman at the well whom Jesus encountered.

Something happened to her! Something changed her from the inside out. Her heart was different! Her attitude was different. Her demeanor was different.

She had met the Messiah! She found the living water that would flood her with joy. She found Someone Who told her everything she had ever done and yet He didn't condemn her. In fact, He loved her despite her sinfulness.

Once she had experienced the grace of Jesus for the forgiveness of her sins, she hurried into her hometown and told everyone about this Messiah Who have changed her heart!

The record shows that most of the town put their faith in Jesus and make Him their Messiah! 

That's miraculous!

When Jesus fed the multitude, thousands were satisfied but there is no record that any were saved.

I encourage you to expand your concept of miracles! A miracle that transforms a life is no less significant than one that parts the sea.

Don't miss the forest for the trees!

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.

October 21, 2013

"Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.  Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping."  Matthew 8:23-24 

It is good to be in the same boat with Jesus. You would like to think that if you are in the boat with Jesus you would have smooth sailing. But this story proves that having Jesus in the boat does not exempt you from storms, contrary to what some might claim.

Why would anyone think that being in the boat with Jesus should exempt you from the storms? Is He a lucky charm? Is He a season pass from suffering? Do we get pulled out of the real world? What are your expectations when you share the boat with Jesus? What should they be?

Let's talk about the expectation thing this morning. I think it is crucial and I also think it is one of the central truths of this story. We try to fit Jesus into our expectations. A few storms can knock that out of us.

We should expect Jesus to be exactly Who He is - the Son of God! It is up to us to discover all that means.

Jesus had spent the day trying to reveal to the disciples Who He is and what they should expect from Him. Go back and start at the beginning of Matthew 8 to set the context for this story.

He healed a leper, and then He was pleasantly surprised by the faith demonstrated by a Roman officer - so much so that He made a point of it to His disciples in case they had missed it. And, to honor that Roman's faith, He did a long-distance healing. Later, He healed Peter's mother-in-law and spent the evening casting out demons.

Not bad for one day in the life of Jesus!

Based on that brief glimpse, what should we expect when He gets in our boat?

Expect Him to be powerful! He had power over disease and over demons!

Expect Him to be Scriptural! He used His power to fulfill the prophecies and promises of Scripture! If you want to know Him, know them!

Expect Him to be purposeful! After Jesus had healed and delivered and ministered, He called those who would follow Him to put Him first. A Christ-follower must be willing to forsake all to come after Him.

Expect Him to be personal! Jesus spoke to large crowds and was followed by multitudes and ultimately died for everyone, but He deals with people individually - personally. He knows your name! He knows your need!

As you meditate on these thoughts, let me ask you two more questions, "How many of your fears are rooted in wrong expectations of Jesus?" And, "What would happen to your level of fear if you came to a better understanding of what to expect from Him?"

Could we be onto something here?

October 20, 2013

"Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm."  Matthew 8:26

Jesus asked a very probing question, "Why are you afraid?"

He didn't wait for them to answer, He gave them a pointed answer, "You have so little faith."

That had to be hard to hear, but who's going to question Jesus? No one responded, "We have great faith!"

They knew He was right!

Have you ever heard Jesus whisper that to you? I'm sure you have questioned your own faith from time to time. And I guarantee that the devil has often accused you about your lack of faith.

They probably understood the point He was trying to make, but they were notoriously slow learners.

So, just in case - - what WAS He saying to them?

First of all, I believe He rebuked them because they called on Him out of fear rather than out of faith. You really could paraphrase this sentence, "Oh, you of great fear!" and not change the gist of the question. If you haven't noticed by now you soon will, this study is about faith as much as it is about fear.

Second, I think He confronted them for allowing the 18" gap between their heads and their hearts. We have that, too, don't we? The difference between faith and fear is the difference between what we know about Jesus and how we apply it to life situations. In the past 24 hours these guys had seen Jesus healing people and casting out demons. They knew He had power and authority from God, but when they were faced with this storm, they forgot Who He was. You could rephrase His statement like this, "Don't you remember Who I am, you fearful ones?"

And, I believe that He was disappointed that they had focused on the storm instead of the Son of God. They became fixated on the problem rather than His power. He was a second thought to them when He should have been a first response. In their boat lay the Creator of the universe and they got spooked by a storm. Their fearful focus relgated Jesus to an unused resource. 

It is a lot easier to recognize this "lack of faith" in the life of others, isn't it? Those disciples, what were they thinking?

But let me ask you, "If Jesus stood before you right now would He commend your faith or would He confront your fear?" 

Like the disciples, you can't have great fear and great faith at the same time. And like them, you may be just 18" away from having greater faith. What do you need to do today to move what you believe about Jesus in your head to how you respond with your heart?

Oh, by the way, Jesus calmed the storm anyway.

October 19, 2013

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”  Revelation 12:11

This short verse is long on important truth. It gives three ways to overcome the Enemy in your daily living.

The Cross of Christ - “by the blood of the Lamb”

While It is hard to fully understand the scope and significance of the Cross of Christ, there are several significant truths that we CAN get our minds around.

-          It provides forgiveness for sins

-          It promotes fellowship with God

-          It purchased freedom in Christ

-          It promises a forever future

Praise God for the power of the Cross!

Second, there is The Confession of Christ – “by the word of their testimony”

I believe Christians don’t understand the power of their testimony. Briefly, here are three reasons why your testimony overcomes the Enemy:

-          It is a testament to the power of God

-          It is a test of my performance (how is my life impacting others)

-          It taunts the Enemy for his predicament

Finally, there is The Commitment to Christ – “they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

When you embrace the power and the purpose of the Cross it will transform your life. As you serve God daily through your life and your lips it will translate into a testimony. You could say that a testimony is the result of your faith being tested against life. As that happens you will discover that faith wins! But you will also discover the Enemy will fight back. When you have a powerful testimony you will make some people happy and other people very angry. You will encounter opposition and some persecution. It will require commitment to be faithful to Christ in an ungodly world. You will need to have the some sort of commitment Jesus had!

Christ-commitment means you have no “plan B”.

If your Christianity is worth living by isn’t it worth dying for?

Do you need more spiritual power in your life?

Cling to the Cross!

Confess Christ with your life and your lips!

Commit to following Him with no plan B!