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Topic: Faith, Obedience & Miracles
(Open Heaven 31 July 2019)
Memorise: “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” – John 2:5
Read: John 2:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Bible in One Year: Judges 12-14, Ezekiel 25:8-26:6
Open Heaven 31 July 2019 Wednesday MESSAGE:
Miracles are simply God’s supernatural interventions in the natural world, which suspends the laws of nature. God performs miracles to show His sovereignty over His created world. In other words, through miracles, He shows that none of His creations can stand in His way whenever He decided to do anything. For example, contrary to the laws of nature, Sarah got pregnant and had a child after she had passed the age of child bearing (Genesis 21:1-8). Unfortunately, many people who desire miracles are not ready to fulfil the requirements that bring about their manifestation, and so their desire remains a mirage. How do we unlock the door to the miraculous? The topic of today’s devotional gives insights into this. Firstly, we must live a life that is pleasing to God if we want His supernatural interventions in our lives, and we please God when we live by faith. The Bible categorically says in Hebrews 11:6a:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:”
The word “faith” has a deeper meaning than many people imagine. For example, it is a lack of faith in God that makes people sin. Adam and Eve lacked faith in the One who placed them in the Garden of Eden and told them what to eat and what not to eat. They doubted God’s integrity and believed the lie of the devil, thereby falling straight into sin. Due to the presence of sin, God’s supernatural intervention, which hitherto made things happen easily for them, departed from their lives. Beloved, Jesus says to you today, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).
Another key which unlocks the miraculous is obedience to the word of God. As a matter of fact, disobedience is the by-product of having no faith. When a person lacks faith in God, the tendency is for the fellow to disobey God with impunity. You can hardly obey the fellow you do not have faith in. It is therefore ironic that the miracle-working God is being disobeyed by those seeking His miracles. From experience, Jesus’ mother knew the link between obedience and walking in the miraculous, and so she said in John 2:5b:
“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
When the servants did what Jesus Christ instructed them to do, they experienced the miraculous. Other examples abound in the Bible which show the connection between faith and obedience on the one hand and obedience and miracles on the other. The story of Naaman is another good example in this regard (2 Kings 5:1-14). Beloved, if you desire to open the door to the miraculous in your life, have faith in the God of miracles and obey Him completely.
Open Heaven 31 July 2019 Wednesday Action Point:
Exercise your faith in God today to obtain your desired miracle from Him
Open Heaven 31 July 2019 Wednesday Hymn 3: Trust and Obey
1 When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey
Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2 Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3 Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4 But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5 Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.
