Faith and Miracles: A Journey to Bethlehem
Summary
In the sermon titled "12.17.23 A Journey to Bethlehem," the speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the children of the church, recognizing them as gifts from God. They commend the children's ministry workers and the parents for their dedication and trust. The speaker conveys their eagerness to deliver a gospel message that resonates with those harboring doubts about the story of Jesus' birth and its significance.
The speaker then shares their desire for the congregation to experience the reality of Jesus and the transformative power of faith. They recount personal testimonies, including their own struggle with infertility for 12 years and the subsequent emotional journey that led to the birth of their children. These stories serve to illustrate the power and authority of Jesus, encouraging the congregation to trust in Him for miracles.
Emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the speaker reflects on the belief in Jesus' ability to perform miracles, His sacrificial death, and resurrection. They highlight that Jesus' birth in a manger marked the beginning of a new era of forgiveness, mercy, grace, favor, healing, and love. A personal experience of a congregation member, Miss Stacy, is mentioned to underscore a powerful encounter with God.
The speaker shares a testimony about their child experiencing God's healing power. During worship, the child received a divine message that their warts would be healed, and within a week, the warts disappeared. This miracle is presented as evidence of God's realness and His ability to perform miracles. The speaker also underscores the significance of Jesus coming to Earth as a child, which brought about a transformation for all believers.
The speaker continues with personal testimonies about his family's experiences with infertility and miraculous healing. After a prophetic message from God, the speaker's wife gave birth to their daughter, Michaela, and unexpectedly, they were later blessed with a second child, Macy. Despite facing a medical challenge with Macy's growth plates, they experienced another miracle when a specialist confirmed that her growth plates were normal.
Lastly, the speaker recounts two stories of miraculous healing within their family. Their daughter, who had to wear a helmet due to growth plate issues, was healed after prayer, and their son, who suffered from warts, was encouraged by the family's testimony of faith and witnessed his own healing. These personal stories are shared to demonstrate God's power in a tangible way, beyond what is written in scripture.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker highlights the importance of children in the faith community, not only as blessings from God but also as living testimonies to His power and love. Through the support of the children's ministry and the trust of parents, the church nurtures the next generation of believers. [53:31]
- Personal testimonies are powerful tools for strengthening faith and witnessing God's miracles. The speaker's own journey through infertility and the eventual birth of their children serves as a testament to the enduring hope and trust in Jesus' authority to transform lives. [56:21]
- The incarnation of Jesus, starting with His humble birth in a manger, is foundational to Christian belief. It signifies the beginning of God's plan for redemption, offering forgiveness, mercy, grace, favor, healing, and love to all who believe. [01:07:52]
- Miracles are not relics of the past but are present-day realities for those who have faith. The speaker's child's healing from warts is shared as a contemporary example of God's active involvement in the lives of His followers. [01:04:41]
- Faith is often strengthened through adversity and the witnessing of God's intervention. The speaker's family stories of healing and unexpected blessings reinforce the message that God is still in the business of performing miracles, encouraging believers to maintain their faith in challenging times. [01:02:20]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "A Journey to Bethlehem"
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 2:1-7 - The Birth of Jesus
2. Revelation 12:11 - "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."
3. Matthew 18:3-4 - "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Jesus being born in a manger according to Luke 2:1-7?
2. How does the speaker describe the role of children in the faith community? ([53:31])
3. What personal testimonies did the speaker share to illustrate the power and authority of Jesus? ([57:36])
4. How did the speaker's child experience God's healing power during worship? ([01:04:41])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the humble birth of Jesus in a manger signify about God's plan for redemption? ([01:07:52])
2. How do personal testimonies, like those shared by the speaker, strengthen faith and witness God's miracles? ([57:01])
3. In what ways does the speaker suggest that faith is often strengthened through adversity and witnessing God's intervention? ([01:02:20])
4. How does the speaker's story about their son's healing from warts serve as a contemporary example of God's active involvement in the lives of His followers? ([01:04:41])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed a miracle. How did it impact your faith? ([01:04:41])
2. The speaker emphasized the importance of children in the faith community. How can you support and nurture the faith of the children in your church or family? ([53:31])
3. The speaker shared personal stories of overcoming infertility and experiencing miraculous healings. How can you maintain hope and trust in God during challenging times? ([57:36])
4. Jesus' birth marked the beginning of a new era of forgiveness, mercy, grace, favor, healing, and love. How can you embody these qualities in your daily life? ([01:07:52])
5. The speaker mentioned that faith is often strengthened through adversity. How can you encourage someone who is currently facing a difficult situation to trust in God's plan? ([01:02:20])
6. How can you use your personal testimonies to witness to others about the reality and power of Jesus? ([57:01])
7. The speaker's child received a divine message during worship. How can you create an environment in your home or church that fosters such spiritual experiences for children? ([01:04:41])
Devotional
Day 1: Children as Living Testimonies
Children are not only blessings but also living examples of God's power and love in the faith community. Their presence and the stories of faith that surround them inspire and encourage the entire church body to witness God's transformative work. [53:31]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Reflection: How can you actively engage in nurturing the faith of the children in your community this week?
Day 2: Testimonies as Pillars of Faith
Sharing personal struggles and victories can profoundly impact others' faith journeys. The story of overcoming infertility and witnessing the birth of children is a powerful testament to Jesus' life-changing authority and hope. [56:21]
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: What personal testimony could you share that might encourage someone's faith in your circle of influence?
Day 3: The Incarnation's Transformative Power
The birth of Jesus in a humble setting marks the beginning of a transformative era, offering redemption and a multitude of divine blessings to all believers. [01:07:52]
Titus 3:4-5 - "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: In what ways has the story of Jesus' birth and His life's purpose impacted your understanding of God's love for you?
Day 4: Present-Day Miracles as Evidence of Faith
Miracles continue to occur and serve as evidence of God's active presence in our lives. The healing of a child's warts is a modern testament to the reality of God's miraculous power. [01:04:41]
Hebrews 2:3-4 - "How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you experienced or witnessed a miracle? How did it affect your faith?
Day 5: Adversity Strengthening Faith
Adversity often serves as the backdrop for experiencing God's intervention and miracles, reinforcing our faith and trust in His promises during challenging times. [01:02:20]
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 - "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
Reflection: What current adversity are you facing, and how can you use it as an opportunity to deepen your trust in God's faithfulness?
Quotes
"We believe they are a gift, they are Miracles and um and so we just really thank you." [53:31] (Download)
"I heard the Lord tell me I want you to pray for the person or persons who have in their heart or in their mind has said you know this is a nice story... but I just don't know if I can buy into it." [54:58] (Download)
"The Bible becomes real, Jesus becomes real, someone that you can place your faith in for forgiveness of your sins so that you can live in eternity." [56:21] (Download)
"When we place our trust in Him, we can depend on Him for those things in our life, and He's not governed by our natural, the natural that we are here on Earth but He still operates in the spiritual and in miracles here on Earth." [58:12] (Download)
"Jesus leaving heaven so that we can experience his forgiveness, mercy, grace, favor, healing, and love. We get it all because he came as a child and I'm here to tell you that it's real." [01:08:35] (Download)
"Our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the trust we put in the fact that a Child Jesus would grow up, do miracles, die on a cross, and be raised from the dead, allows us to benefit from the power and authority he walked in here on Earth." [01:07:52] (Download)
"God told me not to worry about my warts, he said he was going to take them away." [01:05:52] (Download)
"We are a living testimony of God's power and if you have this week, if that's you because I prayed, I said God bring them in that have said that in their heart. I'm here standing in front of you telling you guys, God is real." [01:07:14] (Download)
"Macy was our gift who we didn't expect which anyone that knows Macy knows she's a gift from God and so here in my gift I'm being told that her growth plates aren't where they should be." [01:01:34] (Download)
"God is still doing Miracles today guys he's still real he's real he's more than words in a book he's real he's someone you can go to he's someone you can trusting" [01:02:55] (Download)
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