Miracles, Unity, and the Power of Faith
Summary
In reflecting on the journey of faith and the power of miracles, I shared a personal story about a man named John, who was blind for many years. Initially, I didn't believe in miracles, but as my understanding of scripture deepened, I began to pray for John's healing. Despite his blindness, John saw it as a blessing because it led him to truly know Jesus. This perspective is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the very things we perceive as limitations can be the pathways to deeper spiritual insight and connection with God.
The essence of evangelism is akin to witnessing a miracle. Just as I prayed fervently for John's sight, we must approach outreach with the same desperation and reliance on God's power. The Bible describes those who don't know Jesus as spiritually blind, deaf, and even dead. This underscores the necessity of divine intervention in evangelism. It's not about our efforts or strategies but about the Spirit giving life.
The analogy of raising the dead illustrates the miraculous nature of conversion. If tasked with raising someone from the dead, we would gather those closest to God, recognizing our complete dependence on Him. Similarly, in evangelism, we must rely on God's power, not our fleshly efforts. True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ, as He is the vine and we are the branches. When we are connected to Him, fruit naturally follows.
Unity within the church is another critical aspect of our witness to the world. Jesus prayed for His followers to be one, just as He and the Father are one. This unity is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and truth. It's not about intellectual arguments or famous testimonies but about the church living as a unified body, reflecting the love and oneness of God.
Finally, the act of communion is a profound proclamation of the gospel. By breaking bread and sharing the cup, we declare Christ's death and resurrection. This simple yet profound act is a reminder of our unity in Christ and our shared mission to proclaim His love to the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Miracles and Faith: The story of John's blindness teaches us that what we perceive as limitations can lead us to a deeper understanding of God. True faith involves believing in God's power to perform miracles, even when they don't happen immediately. Our role is to trust and pray fervently, knowing that God can do anything. [01:38]
- Evangelism as a Miracle: Evangelism requires a miracle akin to raising the dead. It's not about our strategies but about the Spirit giving life. We must approach outreach with the same desperation and reliance on God as we would if tasked with raising someone from the dead. [04:09]
- Abiding in Christ: True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting spiritual fruit without being deeply connected to Jesus. Our efforts must focus on remaining in Him. [07:03]
- Unity as a Witness: The unity of believers is a powerful testimony to the world. Jesus prayed for His followers to be one, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. This unity is a clear sign to the world of God's love and truth. [13:57]
- Communion as Proclamation: Communion is a profound proclamation of the gospel. By breaking bread and sharing the cup, we declare Christ's death and resurrection. This act reminds us of our unity in Christ and our mission to proclaim His love. [18:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to John's Story
- [00:45] - Secret Prayers for a Miracle
- [01:38] - John's Perspective on Blindness
- [02:28] - The Desperation for a Miracle
- [03:15] - Evangelism as a Miracle
- [04:22] - The Cemetery Analogy
- [05:34] - Who Would You Bring?
- [06:19] - Theology and Practice
- [07:03] - Abiding in the Vine
- [08:12] - A Mentor's Tears
- [09:59] - Movements and Knowing Jesus
- [11:20] - The Miracle of New Birth
- [12:02] - Weekend at Bernie's Analogy
- [13:17] - Unity and Belief
- [15:11] - Proclaiming the Gospel Through Communion
- [19:40] - Breaking Bread Together
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 6:63 - "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no help at all."
2. John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
3. John 17:21 - "That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Observation Questions:
1. How did John's perspective on his blindness change his relationship with Jesus? [01:38]
2. What does the sermon suggest is necessary for true evangelism to occur? [03:15]
3. According to the sermon, what is the role of unity within the church in witnessing to the world? [13:57]
4. How does the act of communion serve as a proclamation of the gospel according to the sermon? [18:18]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean when the sermon states that evangelism requires a miracle akin to raising the dead? How does this perspective change the way we approach outreach? [04:09]
2. In what ways does abiding in Christ lead to true fruitfulness, and how is this different from relying on our own efforts? [07:03]
3. How does the unity of believers serve as a testimony to the world, and why is this unity compared to the relationship between the Father and the Son? [13:57]
4. What is the significance of communion as a proclamation of Christ's death and resurrection, and how does it remind us of our mission? [18:18]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a personal limitation you perceive in your life. How might this be a pathway to deeper spiritual insight, similar to John's blindness? [01:38]
2. Consider your approach to evangelism. How can you incorporate a greater reliance on God's power rather than your own strategies? [03:15]
3. In what ways can you actively work towards unity within your church community? How can this unity serve as a witness to those outside the church? [13:57]
4. How can you ensure that you are abiding in Christ in your daily life? What specific practices can help you stay connected to the vine? [07:03]
5. Think about the last time you participated in communion. How did it impact your understanding of the gospel and your role in proclaiming it? [18:18]
6. Identify a relationship within your church where unity is lacking. What steps can you take to foster reconciliation and oneness? [13:57]
7. How can you make communion a more central part of your spiritual life and community, emphasizing its role in proclaiming the gospel? [18:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Limitations as Pathways to Deeper Insight
In the journey of faith, what we often perceive as limitations can become pathways to a deeper understanding of God. The story of John, who was blind for many years, illustrates this truth. Despite his physical blindness, John saw his condition as a blessing because it led him to truly know Jesus. This perspective challenges us to reconsider our own limitations and struggles. Instead of viewing them as obstacles, we can see them as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God. True faith involves believing in God's power to perform miracles, even when they don't happen immediately. Our role is to trust and pray fervently, knowing that God can do anything. [01:38]
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)
Reflection: What is one limitation or struggle in your life that you can begin to view as a potential pathway to deeper spiritual insight? How can you invite God into this area today?
Day 2: Evangelism as a Divine Intervention
Evangelism is not merely about human strategies or efforts; it requires a miracle akin to raising the dead. The Bible describes those who don't know Jesus as spiritually blind, deaf, and even dead, underscoring the necessity of divine intervention. Just as one would approach the task of raising someone from the dead with desperation and reliance on God, we must approach outreach with the same fervor. It is the Spirit that gives life, and our role is to depend on God's power rather than our own fleshly efforts. [04:09]
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is spiritually blind or dead? How can you begin to pray for them with the same desperation and reliance on God as if you were praying for a miracle?
Day 3: Abiding in Christ for True Fruitfulness
True fruitfulness in the Christian life comes from abiding in Christ. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting spiritual fruit without being deeply connected to Jesus. Our efforts must focus on remaining in Him, for it is through this connection that fruit naturally follows. This abiding relationship is not about striving in our own strength but about resting in the presence and power of Christ. [07:03]
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4 ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can deepen your connection with Jesus today to ensure you are abiding in Him and not relying on your own strength?
Day 4: Unity as a Testimony to the World
The unity of believers is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and truth. Jesus prayed for His followers to be one, just as He and the Father are one. This unity is not about intellectual arguments or famous testimonies but about the church living as a unified body, reflecting the love and oneness of God. When the world sees this unity, it becomes a clear sign of God's presence and truth. [13:57]
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20-21 ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your church community this week? What steps can you take to foster a spirit of oneness and love among fellow believers?
Day 5: Communion as a Proclamation of the Gospel
The act of communion is a profound proclamation of the gospel. By breaking bread and sharing the cup, we declare Christ's death and resurrection. This simple yet profound act is a reminder of our unity in Christ and our shared mission to proclaim His love to the world. Communion is not just a ritual but a powerful declaration of our faith and commitment to live out the gospel in our daily lives. [18:18]
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV)
Reflection: As you participate in communion, how can you let this act deepen your understanding of the gospel and your commitment to proclaiming Christ's love in your daily life?
Quotes
The more I look at the scriptures, the more I believe you really can do anything, anything, and just wanting to know God better and seeing this miracle. And then one day, you know, my friend John, you know, the guy who was blind, his kidney was failing, and so he came in to be prayed for by the elders. [00:55:55]
My concern with our attitude towards Outreach is sometimes we don't have that same attitude. You see, I knew there was nothing physically I could do to make John see. It was going to take a miracle of God or nothing. And it didn't happen right then. It still might. I don't understand that. [00:55:55]
The Bible says in John 6:63, Jesus says it is the spirit who gives life, the flesh is of no help at all. When scripture talks about those who don't know Jesus, it uses words like deaf, it uses words like blind, it even uses words like dead, which makes you blind and deaf also. [00:55:55]
If I told you your task that God told you tonight what he wants you to do is go to the local Cemetery, okay, that's your calling tonight, go to the local cemetery and we're not talking about a mass Revival which is just one, just get one, okay, what would you do? [00:55:55]
Who would you bring with you? No seriously, I'm being dead serious right now, no pun intend, yeah, I'm being absolutely serious right now. If that was your calling tonight and you said Okay God wants me to go raise someone from the dead, who would you bring with you? [00:55:55]
The passage we just heard in English and Spanish, you know, is that he's the vine and those of us who are attached to him, those of us who are abiding him, abido in know Vino, that we are the ones that actually fruit's just going to happen, right, those of us who abide. [00:55:55]
It's impossible, it's like taking a branch, you know, that's not attached and going okay come on, come on, you know, let's throw some fertilizer on, let's water it, let's just make something happen. He goes it's not going to happen apart from it, you're not going to do anything. [00:55:55]
If you're attached, if somehow you're attached and abiding in the vine, he says you're going to bear fruit and he says it's fruit that's going to last, fruit that's going to abide. I mean the vine, the branch isn't like, you know, it just happens, it just flows. [00:55:55]
Jesus says this is what's going to prove it to them. He goes it's when these followers actually love each other, not just put up with each other, but he says that they love each other, that they may be one just as father, this is Jesus speaking, father, you know how you and I are just one. [00:55:55]
I want the church to be that way that I've never, man, for years I never prayed for that. I didn't even think that was a possibility that I could look at people in my church and be one with them as the father, just as the father and son are one. [00:55:55]
Jesus said look when that happens, he goes I'm praying for that so that the world would believe that you sent me. See again that doesn't make a lot of logical sense to us in the flesh. We think let me use my intellect. [00:55:55]
When you take this piece of bread, what you break this bread remembering my body that was broken for me, for you, and you drink this cup of the new Covenant, you Proclaim you're proclaiming my death until I return. I'm supposed to preach the gospel by taking communion. [00:55:55]
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