In the last three sermons we've seen Jesus's sovereignty over everything that can affect our bodies and spirits. Disease, disability, and even demons are no match compared to the overwhelming power of Christ. And not only does Christ have this power but as our father and friend, he is willing to use his power to work in and through us, conquering our sickness, affliction, and demons for his glory! As the leper said, if you are willing I know you can heal me. He is able and he is willing.
But in John 6:1-21 we see that Jesus is not only sovereign over our physical and spiritual health, but he is also sovereign over all of nature. When he speaks storms stand still, when he prays bread multiplies and water becomes wine, and when he walks water becomes solid ground. Yes, there are natural laws; gravity, inertia, force, thermodynamics, but all of them are at the will of Christ; they all submit to him. Where it is impossible with men, it is more than possible with Christ and thats what a miracle is!
And so we say yes, we believe that Jesus has the sovereign power to do anything he wills... but how does that connect with us this morning when it comes to nature. How does the fact that Jesus can move mountains help me in my job, my marriage, my trials? Well I think it's simple isn't it; If Jesus can feed the masses from nothing, then he can surely make sure you are fed and clothed. If Jesus can calm the storms then surely he can calm the storms in your marriage. If Jesus can walk on water and turn water to wine then surely he can fill you with living water! The point is this... Jesus breaks the natural order of this world to show you that this world can't break you!
- Mar 26, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 4: All Of Nature Submits To Christ (John 6:1-21)
Expect A Miracle Part 4: All Of Nature Submits To Christ (John 6:1-21)
In the last three sermons we've seen Jesus's sovereignty over everything that can affect our bodies and spirits. Disease, disability, and even demons are no match compared to the overwhelming power of Christ. And not only does Christ have this power but as our father and friend, he is willing to use his power to work in and through us, conquering our sickness, affliction, and demons for his glory! As the leper said, if you are willing I know you can heal me. He is able and he is willing.
But in John 6:1-21 we see that Jesus is not only sovereign over our physical and spiritual health, but he is also sovereign over all of nature. When he speaks storms stand still, when he prays bread multiplies and water becomes wine, and when he walks water becomes solid ground. Yes, there are natural laws; gravity, inertia, force, thermodynamics, but all of them are at the will of Christ; they all submit to him. Where it is impossible with men, it is more than possible with Christ and thats what a miracle is!
And so we say yes, we believe that Jesus has the sovereign power to do anything he wills... but how does that connect with us this morning when it comes to nature. How does the fact that Jesus can move mountains help me in my job, my marriage, my trials? Well I think it's simple isn't it; If Jesus can feed the masses from nothing, then he can surely make sure you are fed and clothed. If Jesus can calm the storms then surely he can calm the storms in your marriage. If Jesus can walk on water and turn water to wine then surely he can fill you with living water! The point is this... Jesus breaks the natural order of this world to show you that this world can't break you!
- Mar 20, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 3: Jesus Can Cast Out Any Demon (Luke 8:26-39, Mark 9:14-29)
Expect A Miracle Part 3: Jesus Can Cast Out Any Demon (Luke 8:26-39, Mark 9:14-29)
We are probably more involved in spiritual warfare against demons than we are aware. Demons aren't figments of fiction or our imaginations. They aren't just the products of Hollywood horror flicks. According to the Bible, they are extremely real. And, according to verses like Matthew 12:43-45 the bible makes it clear that they are formless, spiritual entities which inhabit the empty spaces in people. This means that the more empty a person is the more susceptible to demonic oppression or possession they are. You can fill yourself with more of Jesus or be emptied of true theological and spiritual food and be available for the filling of demons. Something will fill your heart and mind... if not Christ, it will be the world, and it will be demonic. Why? Because demons are parasites who feed on our emotions. They don't want to be without a body, even going so far as to ask to go into pigs if no human is available. They are spiritual forces for evil and servants of Satan who prowl the world over looking for people to devour. When they find a target 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that they blind the minds of unbelievers to the light of the Gospel and they can possess them and can cause physical harm to them. Also, according to 1 Timothy 4:1 they deceive and promote false doctrines. The bottom line is this... the overwhelming purpose of demons is to destroy God's plan by destroying God's people. He will attack the lost to lead them astray and he will attack the saved to destroy their testimony. This is their goal, but we can defeat them... Though they may seem powerful, all demons are subject to us in Christ's name. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and there will be no room for demonic attacks.
- Mar 12, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 2: Jesus Can Cure Any Disability (Matthew 15:29-31)
Expect A Miracle Part 2: Jesus Can Cure Any Disability (Matthew 15:29-31)
We know that scripture teaches us that Jesus undoubtably healed people from all manner of diseases from leprosy to common colds. His healing power gives us a clear picture to recognize that we have a God we can place our absolute trust in. Though doctors may heal and medicines may recover, our first response is to trust in Jesus to do what only he can do! My hope is in the healing power of Christ. So my hope in the midst of heart disease is Jesus! My hope in the midst of kidney failure is Jesus. My hope in the midst of Cancer is Jesus!
And of course, Jesus not only can heal any disease, but Jesus can also cure any disability! Though disease and disability are similar, and though they can be directly connected at times, they are indeed different types of physical ailments. Where disease often comes from an infection we've been exposed to, disability often comes from an accident we've been involved with or gene defects we've inherited. And where diseases can often be healed or cured through surgery or medication, disabilities are, for the most part, seen as permanent.
Matthew 15:29-31 tells us; “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”
What an incredible savior we have. Even though it's most definitely a miracle when Jesus cures someone of stage 4 cancer, it is an absolutely undeniable miracle when Jesus heals a paralytic man who's never walked, or a blind man who's never seen! It's almost as if Jesus keeps upping the anti. Much like when Pharaoh's magicians copied Moses's staff turning into a serpent, the water turning to blood, and the frogs, today's doctor's can heal many of our diseases. But, just like the magicians couldn't match Moses turning the sand to gnats, it is beyond our modern day science to heal many of these disabilities! But, Jesus can! Today, turn your attention to the undeniable power of Christ to cure any disability. But I also want you to examine why he allows those disabilities in the first place. If Jesus is powerful enough to cure the lame he is most certainly powerful enough to prevent it all together. Surely he has a plan for your disability. Not only does He have the ability to cure all disabilities, but I believe Jesus allows disabilities to remind us that we are broken in our sin, and only He can make us whole again. The greatest disability is the brokenness that sin has wrought in our souls and the only one who can make us whole again is Jesus.
- Mar 5, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 1: Jesus Can Cure Any Disease (Luke 16:17-19)
Expect A Miracle Part 1: Jesus Can Cure Any Disease (Luke 16:17-19)
We are starting a new series on the miracles of Jesus Christ. And, this is our very last series in our year and a half journey through the Gospels. During the Easter season for the next seven weeks we will be looking at the miracles of Jesus and what they mean specifically for us. Since the Bible tells of so many distinct miracles we will be categorizing these miracles into groups. We will start by looking at all the miracles where Jesus cured someone of a specific sickness or disease. We see that in Luke 6:17-19, Matthew 14:34-36, and Mark 6:53-56 that Jesus healed everyone who came to him. Jesus healed leprosy, Jesus healed fever, and everything in between. Jesus healed to such an extent that people from all over the region, from miles and miles away, came to him to be healed of their diseases... and they were cured by his power! At some point we will all experience the struggle of disease. And when we do experience disease, we are thankful for doctors and medicine... but let me ask you this question; “who do you trust with your disease?” I believe that “Prayer is our first response, not a last resort.” Why? Because it means that we depend on Christ to take care of us. Instead of trying every other means of healing first and then coming to Christ when there is no other hope... we come to Christ first and expect him to do what only He can do! So who do you trust with your disease? Today our prayer is that this would become your heart when faced with disease; Before the doctor's diagnosis, medical procedures and prescriptions, my hope in the midst of disease is the healing power of Christ!