Anybody Need A Miracle?
Miracles and Seeking 101
Ps 77:14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
Disclaimer: This series on Miracles is NOT about seeking miracles. It’s about seeking God. When we seek God, it positions us where miracles happen, God’s will is proven and the gap between our theology and reality is lessened.
Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (2)For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, (3)how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (4)while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Caution: Seeking after the miraculous should never substitute a simple faith of seeking God.
Confirmation of truth:
Moses (Exodus 4)
Gideon (Judges 6)
Jesus John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.
Caution:
When miracles and truth are evident of God’s will, there must be faith exercised.
It is better to believe without needing a miracle.
John 4:41 And many more believed because of his word.
John 4:48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
Excuse for unbelief:
Matthew 16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him to show them a sign from heaven.
Curious thrill seekers:
Matthew 27:40-42 …and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the son of God, come down from the cross.” (41) So also the chief priest, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, (42)”He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.
Hope to get something for self:
John 6:26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”
Close the Gap!!
Uncontainable.
Unexplainable.
Uncontrollable.
Unplannable.
Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Power in Gathering: They were joined together, obedient, faithful and were seeking the Lord.
What if we did what they did? What if we prayed and fasted for 10 days? What if we sought after God with the same intensity?
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (2)And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3)And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
God’s greatest surprises come when we seek after Him!
Mistake: We focus our attention on telling God what to do, how to do it and when to do it.
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all thee things will be added to you. (34)Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We should stop trying to plan for God. God is an amazing event coordinator!!
Seeking God increases our expectations for miracles.
“Sanctify” means “to set apart for His purposes”
Acts 2:43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Simple observation with profound implications: How big something looks doesn’t depend on how big it really is. It also depends on how far away you are!
Ps 34:3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Final Point: Seeking God increases our expectations for miracles means seeking Him until the impossible seem logical.
Seeking God increases our preparations for miracles.
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Where has the soil in your heart become hardened? Where have you lost hope or lost joy? What have you stopped thinking about because it’s too painful? Or stopped praying about because it’s too unbelievable?