Sermon Reflections from Do Miracles Still Happen | Alex Hardt | September 14
Pastor Alex was delving into the text of John 2 where the Wedding at Cana is the setting for Jesus’ first miracle. Each of Jesus’ miracles reveals more about our Savior and His power. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus showed his power over the natural elements and transformed everyday water into the finest wine. It was an act of creation/transformation that is only possible with God. There was no way to explain the water becoming wine except through a miracle- the action belonged to God not man.
This miracle of water into wine had a profound effect upon the wedding and its guests. The servants were witnesses to this silent transformation as they filled the jugs with water and pulled out wine. The bridegroom was astounded by the provision of this fine wine that he did not know he even had. Mary saw Jesus in a roll of creator/problem solver that she knew in her heart was always there. Jesus let himself be used to add joy to the party and yet not expose himself to the world as ‘his time had not yet come.’
Where does your joy come from? Is it in the things you do or the people you see? Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that “ for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Habakkuk 3:18 “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Finding the Lord Jesus in your life brings joy. Why? When we accept Jesus as our savior, His Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” Having the Holy Spirit within us to testify with our spirit brings us joy. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” and Romans 14:7 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Having the Holy Spirit within us leaves us open to God’s miracles each and every day. What has happened to you today that you might consider extra-ordinary? Perhaps you ran into someone at the market or at school and were able to point them towards Jesus with an invitation or a word of truth? You might not consider it a miracle but there are no coincidences in God’s kingdom. He has a plan and a purpose for each of our encounters. Do you take advantage of those God opportunities, do you pray for them ahead so that you are prepared? God will help us when we invite him to be with us and show us where we can serve him.
As for miracles, I believe they do occur today. When I look back at my life, I can see miracles or unexplained events that could only have been from God. He used those events to transform my thinking and being for Him. He used them to grow my faith and trust in Him. When I was a young high school girl, I had a friend that had another friend. The other girl did not like me as I suppose she felt I was taking her friend away from her by being with me. She was out right hostile to me. I still remember her hostility and I decided to commit it to prayer. I prayed that her perception of me would be transformed. The Lord led me to be kind and use gentle words with this girl and show her love. The transformation was amazing as I spoke and acted kindly in response to her hostility. We became friends after a while and it eased the tension between the 3 of us. I never forgot this and considered it a miracle that the girl’s attitude was changed. For a 15 year old girl, this was a huge miracle. God is in the business of performing miracles in our lives. We just need to be open to the God opportunities he provides.
Linda
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