Transformative Generosity: Engaging with God's Mission
Summary
Today, we celebrate the incredible ways God is at work through the faithfulness and generosity of His people. The global impact of our giving is evident: pastors are being trained, churches are being planted, the hungry are fed, the sick are cared for, and hope is brought to places of crisis and conflict. Yet, the need remains great, and each of us is invited to participate in God’s mission—whether by going, giving, or praying. Even small sacrifices, like forgoing a luxury, can be transformed by God into something of eternal significance.
Turning to John 2, we see Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine. This miracle is more than a display of power; it is a sign pointing to who Jesus is and what He came to do. Jesus was present at the celebration, not to be entertained, but to bring salvation and transformation. He models a “middle way”—engaged with the world, yet not conformed to it, influencing rather than being influenced.
Mary’s response to the crisis at the wedding is instructive: she brings the problem to Jesus first, trusting in His character and timing. Her advice to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you,” is a profound call to discipleship. Obedience often precedes the miracle; the servants’ willingness to fill the jars with water, despite not understanding, set the stage for Jesus’ transforming work. In our own lives, God often asks us to take steps of obedience before we see the breakthrough we long for.
The miracle at Cana also reminds us that God is interested in transformation, not just sin management. He takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, turning water into the finest wine, and He desires to do the same in our lives. The sign points us beyond itself—to the God who loves us, who desires relationship with us, and who is still in the business of making all things new. If the tomb is empty, anything is possible. No matter how big or small our needs, we are invited to bring them to Jesus, trusting in His love and power to transform.
Key Takeaways
- Generosity in God’s mission multiplies beyond what we can see. Our giving, whether large or small, is used by God to bring hope, healing, and the gospel to places we may never visit. Each act of faithfulness is woven into God’s redemptive story, reminding us that we are partners in something far greater than ourselves. [38:08]
- Jesus models a life of engagement without compromise. He was present at celebrations and among those far from God, not to blend in, but to bring transformation. We are called to influence our world for Christ, not by withdrawing in fear or conforming to culture, but by living as salt and light—distinct, yet deeply present. [50:07]
- Obedience often precedes the miracle. The servants at Cana filled the jars with water before seeing any evidence of change. In our lives, God frequently asks us to take steps of faith—sometimes mundane or difficult—before we witness His transforming power. Miracles are often found on the other side of simple, persistent obedience. [01:06:50]
- Prayer is our first response, not our last resort. Mary brought the need to Jesus before trying to solve it herself, trusting in His wisdom and timing. We are invited to bring every concern, no matter how small or impossible it seems, to the One who loves us and is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. [53:27]
- The signs and miracles of Jesus point us to relationship, not just results. The miracle at Cana was not an end in itself, but a signpost to the deeper reality of God’s love, presence, and desire for union with His people. Our greatest need is not for a miracle, but for restored relationship with the living God, who invites us to trust, obey, and walk with Him daily. [01:19:08]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[38:08] - Celebrating Global Generosity
[40:41] - Easter Offering and Local Missions
[41:43] - Citrus Pregnancy Center Walk
[44:41] - Children’s Ministry and Dismissal
[44:57] - Scripture Reading: John 2:1-11
[46:51] - If the Tomb Is Empty, Anything Is Possible
[48:32] - Jesus at the Wedding: Engagement Without Compromise
[50:07] - The Middle Way: Influence vs. Isolation
[53:27] - Mary’s Example: Prayer as First Response
[58:42] - “Do Whatever He Tells You”: The Call to Obedience
[01:06:50] - Steps of Obedience Before the Miracle
[01:09:15] - Alcohol, Self-Control, and Transformation
[01:13:16] - Signs Pointing to the Miracle Maker
[01:19:08] - God’s Desire: Relationship and Transformation
[01:23:35] - Invitation to Trust and Obey
[01:25:50] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
John 2:1-11
(The story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana)
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### Observation Questions
1. What problem did Mary bring to Jesus at the wedding, and how did she respond after Jesus’ initial answer? [45:32]
2. What instructions did Jesus give to the servants, and how did they respond? [45:49]
3. According to the passage, what was the result of this miracle for Jesus’ disciples? [46:17]
4. In the sermon, what are some specific ways the church’s generosity is making a global impact? [38:08]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might Mary’s words, “Do whatever He tells you,” be considered a profound call to discipleship? [58:42]
2. The sermon describes Jesus as living a “middle way”—engaged with the world but not conformed to it. What does this mean, and why is it important for followers of Jesus? [50:07]
3. The servants had to fill large jars with water before seeing any evidence of a miracle. What does this suggest about the relationship between obedience and experiencing God’s power? [01:06:50]
4. The miracle at Cana is called a “sign.” According to the sermon, what is the deeper purpose of Jesus’ signs and miracles? [01:13:16]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to see generosity as participation in God’s mission. Is there a specific area where you feel God is inviting you to give—whether time, resources, or prayer? What small sacrifice could you make this week to join in God’s work? [40:56]
2. Jesus was present at celebrations and among people far from God, not to blend in, but to bring transformation. Are there places or relationships in your life where you tend to withdraw or, on the other hand, blend in too much? What would it look like to be “salt and light” in those situations? [50:07]
3. Mary brought the problem to Jesus first, before trying to solve it herself. Think of a current challenge or need in your life. What would it look like to make prayer your first response instead of your last resort? [53:27]
4. The servants obeyed Jesus’ instructions even though they didn’t understand why. Is there something you sense God is asking you to do that doesn’t make sense right now? What step of obedience could you take this week, even if you don’t see immediate results? [01:06:50]
5. The sermon says God is interested in transformation, not just “sin management.” In what area of your life do you need God to turn the “ordinary” into something extraordinary? How can you invite Him into that area? [01:18:23]
6. The miracle at Cana points beyond itself to relationship with God. How is your relationship with Jesus right now? Is there a step you need to take to draw closer to Him—such as confession, worship, or joining with others in community? [01:19:08]
7. “If the tomb is empty, anything is possible.” What is one “impossible” situation or need you want to bring to Jesus this week? How can the group support you in prayer for this? [01:15:29]
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Devotional
Day 1: Trusting Jesus in Impossible Situations
When faced with challenges that seem insurmountable—whether in our families, jobs, or personal lives—we are reminded that Jesus is present and able to work miracles even in the most unlikely circumstances. The story of the wedding at Cana shows that when the wine ran out, a symbol of joy and provision, Jesus was able to transform the situation completely, turning water into wine and revealing His glory. No matter how hopeless things may appear, we are invited to bring our needs to Jesus, trusting that He is still at work and that, because the tomb is empty, anything is possible. [47:52]
John 2:1-11 (ESV)
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels impossible right now? Will you bring it honestly to Jesus today, trusting Him to work in ways you cannot see?
Day 2: Obedience Precedes the Miracle
Before the miracle at Cana, there were several steps of simple, sometimes confusing obedience—filling heavy jars with water, carrying them to the master of the feast, and trusting Jesus’ instructions even when they didn’t make sense. Often, we long for God to move powerfully in our lives, but we overlook the small, faithful steps He asks us to take first. God’s miracles are often preceded by our willingness to trust and obey, even when the task seems mundane or the outcome unclear. [07:40]
John 2:5 (ESV)
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Reflection: What is one specific step of obedience—no matter how small or illogical—it seems God is asking you to take today? Will you do it, trusting Him with the results?
Day 3: Listening for Jesus’ Voice Above the Noise
Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice and know Him, but the world is full of distractions and competing messages that can drown out what He is saying. We are challenged to turn down the volume of the world and intentionally listen for Jesus’ direction, especially through Scripture and prayer. When we seek His guidance and act on what He reveals, we experience the fullness of life He intends for us. [01:01:43]
John 10:27 (ESV)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can quiet the noise in your life today so you can better hear Jesus’ voice and respond to His leading?
Day 4: God’s Transforming Power—Making the New from the Old
God is not just interested in managing our sin or helping us cope; He desires to transform us from the inside out. Just as Jesus turned ordinary water into the finest wine, He can take our brokenness, shame, and old ways of living and make something new and beautiful. This transformation is not about our effort but about God’s redemptive power at work in us, making us new creations and giving us hope for restoration in every area of life. [01:18:23]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Reflection: Where in your life do you most need God’s transforming touch? Will you invite Him to make something new out of what feels old or broken?
Day 5: Bringing Your Needs to Jesus—Because He Cares
No need is too small or too great for Jesus. He cares deeply for each of us, just as He cared for His mother at the wedding in Cana. We are invited to bring our requests to Him, trusting that He loves us, knows what we need, and delights in responding to our prayers. Whether it’s a practical concern or a deep longing, Jesus invites us to come to Him with confidence, believing that because the tomb is empty, anything is possible. [01:17:22]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What is one need—big or small—that you have been hesitant to bring to Jesus? Will you bring it to Him in prayer today, trusting in His love and care for you?
Quotes
If the tomb is empty, then anything is possible. In John's gospel, he calls these miracles signs and these signs that that point to something something other than the miracle itself. And so, for the next few weeks, I want to talk about a few of these miracles. I want to talk about a few of these signs. Um, not just in John's gospel, but we're going to look at some of the the miracles that Jesus performed. We said already last week that the greatest miracle was the resurrection of Jesus. And so, as we celebrated that last week, uh, we've also learned in the past that every Sunday is Easter Sunday. Every Sunday is resurrection day. Every Sunday is a day to celebrate. [00:46:58]
And so, we rejoice and we celebrate because of what Jesus has done. and we look forward to the fact that he's still working in this world today. And some of us maybe walked in these doors and there's some challenging situations that we're dealing with. I know some of us are are looking for a job or a different job or we're looking for housing. Some of us have have got problems that we're dealing with in our family. Maybe it's a marriage. Maybe it's with our children or grandchildren. Some of them might be far from God and it might seem impossible for us. We have neighbors that that don't seem to have any interest in God or the things of God and it just seems impossible. [00:47:23]
And in the scripture that we read, we see this first sign, this first miracle of turning water into wine. Uh and that might seem like an unusual miracle to to talk about in a in a Nazarene church. Nazarines uh are a group of denomination of believers that that we practice absinence of alcohol. Um and in the first century uh weddings would last about a week. And so it's kind of interesting that Jesus gets invited to this kind of a party. You know, when I was in high school, I made a I tried to make a strong commitment that I was going to follow Jesus. And and when people my classmates recognized that this was a commitment that I'd made, um nobody was inviting me to the parties. [00:48:04]
But apparently Jesus was apparently Jesus was the kind of person you wanted to invite to your parties, to your celebration. Well, in the sometimes I'll have people, younger men or women that will come to me and ask me, "Pastor, what do you think? Should I go to this party? Is it all right? Could I go and be a witness just like Jesus?" Well, the problem is you ain't Jesus. And neither am I. Right? And Jesus didn't go to these parties so that he could be entertained, so that he could partake of their frivolity. But Jesus went to these parties because there were people there who needed salvation. There were people there who needed to hear the message of the gospel, who needed to see the gospel lived out. [00:49:14]
And Jesus was an influencer. And when Jesus went somewhere, he influenced them. He wasn't influenced by them. And there's a big difference. In Jesus's day, there was a spectrum of of two groups of people. On one end of the spectrum, you had a group called the Pharisees. And the Pharisees wanted to keep separate from sin and evil and the world and the influences of the world. But the problem is they had little to no impact in their culture. They weren't they weren't influencing anyone for the good, for God. And in fact, they they viewed people who weren't obedient to God as the enemy of God. And they treated them like the enemy. [00:50:23]
And if you treat people who are not following Jesus as an enemy, you'll never win them over to the gospel. You'll never lead them to Jesus if you treat them like the enemy. And on the other end of the spectrum, you had the Sadducees. And they didn't believe in the resurrection. And so they were sad. You see, I know it's really bad. But I'm grasping at straws. So bear with me here. You'll always remember that though, won't you? The Sadducees were were they didn't believe in the resurrection. Many of them didn't believe in the afterlife., and and they had sort of partnered with the Romans or they partnered with some of the others that were involved in in ruling Palestine and Israel of the day and they just joined together and so you couldn't really see much difference between the way they lived and the way the Romans lived and the way because they were so influenced by the culture around them and so Jesus comes along and and he forms the middle way or in theological terms we like to use Latin and Greek whenever we have an opportunity. So we call it the via media, the middle way. [00:51:13]
And when the wine ran out, it was a problem. It was a ma major failure of hospitality for the the host for the bridegroom and the bride because they didn't prepare enough supplies for the week-long celebration. And so the groom would would be responsible for throwing the party because the groom was was sort of illustrating, look, I can take care of my new wife here. Look at how I provided this party. And so a failure to to uh have enough supplies for the party would also indicate maybe he wasn't so well prepared to take care of his new wife. It was also a a demonstration of hospitality and and in that culture uh a failure to provide hospitality was a major major problem. [00:52:14]
And so Jesus's mother Mary comes to Jesus and said, "We've got a problem." And I think that's a good question for us. When we have a problem, what do we do first? Is is prayer for us a first resort or last resort? Is it our first response or is it well nothing else to do? I guess we can pray. Sometimes we we treat prayer that way. It's sort of our last hail Mary, let's throw it out and see what happens instead of first going and talking with Jesus. So Mary goes and talks to Jesus because she knows who Jesus is. She was there as that young girl when the angel came and said, "You're going to have a baby." [00:53:21]
And she said, "I haven't had a man. I know how this works. I I paid attention in biology class. I understand this doesn't work this way." And the angel said, "Well, God's going to take care of this." She knew when the when the when they took the baby to be dedicated at the temple and Anna and Simeon come and and they prophesy and they pray and they rejoice. She knew that her baby was something special. She knew when the wise men came from the east that he was not some ordinary baby. As they came to worship him, she knew what he was all about. And so she comes to him as her first response. [00:53:54]
And Jesus responds to Mary by saying,"Woman, what does this have to do with me?" Now, I try to be a biblical husband. I try to be a godly man. And and sometimes when Stephanie comes to me and she brings forth a problem, I try to respond just like Jesus would, right? And Jesus, you know, it's it's good to follow Jesus. We want to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do the things that Jesus did. So, I try to put my my advice and put that into practice. And Stephanie, she's good at asking questions. Sometimes she'll ask questions. Said, "Andy, do you want to help me move the furniture around and redecorate in the living room?" [00:54:34]
And I I see that question. And I respond just like Jesus. Woman, what does that have to do with me? And then, as I'm getting myself up off the ground, I realize I ain't Jesus either. And so that's not really the best way to respond. But Jesus says,"I do the will of my father and my hour's not come yet." Jesus knew that he had a mission that he was sent by the father and he had a mission to do and and he the timing was had to be just right. He didn't want to jump the timing ahead of God. Sometimes I get anxious and I get impatient and I want to push a little further and come on God, let's go now or maybe five minutes ago or maybe last week. [00:54:58]
It would be nice. Let's let's go. But God had his has his timing and he knows what's best. And so we try to be faithful to to to heed God's word and his timing. And Jesus knows if he starts doing miracles now, if he starts putting forth signs now, that the the clock's going to be set in motion. And he wants to make sure that it's the right time. Jesus didn't come to be a religious leader. He didn't come to perform miracles. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus came to be the lamb of God and to die death on the cross to be buried in the tomb and on the third day to rise again. [00:55:38]
And then after 40 days of appearing to his disciples to ascend to the right hand of God the father where he reigns and rules and has all authority in heaven and on earth even today. This is what Jesus came for. So Mary doesn't get into a theological argument with Jesus. That's probably not a good idea, right? I've tried that before with God. Said, "Now God, you've said, God, you've promised I God, I think that the best way for you to operate would be thus and so." And then God reminds me just like Job. So tell me, Andy, where were you when I created this world? Where were you when I hung the stars in the sky? [00:56:23]
Where were you when I separated the W? Where were you, Andy? Okay, God, maybe you don't. Maybe you do know better than I do. I'll just zip my lip and and trust in you. Well, Mary doesn't get in a theological debate with Jesus. She just leaves her prayer request at the feet of Jesus. And sometimes that's all we can do, right? We we don't know what what he's going to do. We don't know how he's going to respond. But but Jesus, here it is. Then Mary gives, I think, the greatest advice in all the Bible. It's really one of the best definitions of what it means to be a disciple. [00:56:55]
Jesus says, Mary tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you to do." Aren't those good words? Do whatever he tells you to do. So sometimes people will come to me as a pastor and say, "Hey, I need to know what what am I supposed to do? I don't know what I should do next." Well, if you try to live your life to please people, that's not going to work out so well, right? It's it's the problem of the three little bears, right? The for some it's too hot, for some it's too cold, and and for a segment it's just right. But there's more that are upset than are happy. So trying to please people never really works out. [00:57:28]
And the great high priestess of our age, Oprah, she tells people to follow your heart. Just follow your heart. Or as the younger people say, you do you. But again, that's not really good advice, is it? The Bible tells us that our heart is wicked and it's deceptive and and we don't even know our own heart. So, how can we possibly follow our heart? The best advice is to listen to what Mary tells us, do whatever he tells you to do. Well, pastor, I still don't know what to do. Sometimes I'll tell them, well, see this book here? There's some things in here that you can start with. This would be a good place to start. [00:58:08]
Start reading your Bible. Start studying the Bible. Start seeing all the different commands and directions that that this book tells us that come from God. Jesus commanded us to make disciples. And I'm amazed at how many people that I talked to. Are you making disciples? Well, you don't want me. I mean, that's that was given to the whole church, right? Well, yes, it was. But but what's your part in this disciplem process? Jesus has instructed us to forgive those in the way that God forgives us. Yeah, but pastor, you don't know what she's done to me. You don't know how he's hurt me. You don't know what scars I have. Let me show you. [00:58:48]
Jesus tells us to love. He tells us to serve. He tells us to live radically generous lives. He tells us to go public with our faith, to be baptized. Why would God give us more directions when we're not being faithful to the directions he's already given us? Why would he have to reveal more when we're not doing what he's already told us to do clearly in the scriptures? We're instructed to be together, to break bread together as a family, and yet we're always looking for something else. Yeah, but I want something fun. Is there something fun that he wants me to do? What is it that Jesus is telling you to do? [00:59:28]
In John 10, Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice. They know my voice." Jesus is speaking to all of us. The problem is is we have the the message, the volume of the world that's turned up so loud, we can't hear the the voice of Jesus. We're so caught up and so distracted in the things of this world that we miss the voice of Jesus. So, here's my challenge to you at this point. I want you to write down what you think Jesus is telling you to do next. Maybe it's to start tithing. Maybe it's to be baptized. Maybe it's to serve in the nursery. [01:00:08]
And then what you think Jesus is telling you to do, tell somebody else and invite them to hold you accountable. Remember, God won't tell you to do something that's going to contradict the scriptures. And sometimes I have people that will come to me with crazy ideas. Pastor, I think the Lord wants me to divorce my wife and marry this other woman. I don't even have to pray about it. No, no, and no. It contradicts the scriptures. There's no way that's right. I had another guy that came to my office and and he had this really good idea. He he wanted to cash out his retirement and buy this apartment complex so he could help provide some housing for people who were in need in our community. [01:00:41]
And that sounded like a really good, you know, motive idea that he had there. Then I asked him, I said, 'What does your wife think about this? Well, she's not really in favor of this. And I said, well, that's your answer. No. Well, she's wrong, right? This is a good motive. I got good intentions here. No, you've got to be together. The scripture says a house divided is going to fall. You got to be equally yolked to come together. And and sometimes I have young people that that they want to they want to go out and date somebody who's not a Christian. You know, they'll they'll come to church and and Oh, pastor, did you know that she's dating somebody now? [01:01:14]
Okay. Where where's he at? Well, he's at home. Why didn't you bring him to church with you? Well, he doesn't he doesn't really want to go to church. Well, what are you doing dating somebody that that you wouldn't consider a potential mate? Oh, we're not that serious. Come on, pastor. Well, this is the kind of advice that you find in the scriptures. And and we we know that we should do everything that he tells us to do, right? And Stephanie and I were newlyweds. I remember I was in the in the room where we kind of had his office, our spare bedroom, and I was doing the bills and and and I remember working through that and looking at the numbers and I come out to Stephanie. [01:01:47]
I said, "Listen, if we pay our tithe, we're not going to have enough money to pay these bills. What do you want to do, Stephanie?" And she immediately said, "You got to tithe. That's not an option." And I said, "All right. I wanted you to know that as we get started here, sometimes it doesn't make any sense to us, right? The things that Jesus wants us to do. But look at us today. We obviously had enough money to get by, right? I've had enough to buy food and then some. As I just keep letting the loop out on my belt, you know, one more notch on the belt. It doesn't always make sense what Jesus tells us to do. [01:02:20]
He tells the servants to take those stone jars and to fill them up with water. Now, these stone jars were used by the guests as a purification before they go to the festival there, before they go to the wedding. And Jesus says, "Take these jars and fill them up with water." Now, that seems kind of silly, doesn't it? We don't have wine. Jesus says, "Fill up the jars with water." But remember, we're doing whatever he says to do. Sometimes he wants us to share our faith with a neighbor and we're thinking, "I've done that before. I know how this is going to end." to be generous with your resources, to forgive that person who has hurt you, to volunteer to serve in some capacity or another. [01:02:53]
Too often when we teach this story in John chapter 2, we want to jump ahead to the miracle, right? We want to go see what the miracle is and and celebrate what the miracle of what Jesus has done, but we forget that there's about four or five steps of obedience that precede the miracle. And we want a miracle in our life, but sometimes we forget that there's some steps of obedience that we need to take before God can do the miracle. Think about just filling these jars with water. You know, roughly it's going to take about 120 to 180 gallons of water. They couldn't go to the spot and turn on the water and fill them up. [01:03:26]
They had to go to a water supply like a well, and maybe that was a mile away. Haul the water from the well. Think about that. You know what it's like to get gallons of milk and gallons of water and haul that in the house? Think about 150 gallons. That's a lot of work. What are we doing this for? Can you hear the conversation with the servants? We need wine. What's he What's he having us bring water? Come on. This guy's crazy. Maybe you've got a marriage that's not what you wish it would be. Maybe you got a child that's far from God and not where they ought to be. Maybe a sibling that's not with the Lord. [01:03:59]
Before the miracle happens, sometimes we need to just trust and obey what we know to do. Well, they they dip out the water. They take it to the to the wedding coordinator. They taste the wine. Ah, this is the best wine. Well, kind of leads us to a little bit of a question. I won't take the time to discuss it so much this morning, but should Christians drink alcohol? I think that's a good question for us to weigh through because this passage isn't talking about that. But there are righteous and unrighteous ways to drink alcohol. There are righteous and unrighteous ways to abstain from drinking alcohol. [01:04:32]
And the scriptures teach that it's clearly wrong to be drunk with alcohol. But sometimes when those of us who abstain, we can be unrighteous in the way that we treat those who don't have the same convictions that we have. I can tell you as a pastor, I've seen a number of marriages broken and destroyed with the abuse of alcohol. And one story I'll just share was at another church where I was at. this this gentleman uh his his wife and children were coming to the church and he wasn't wasn't interested in God, wasn't interested in the things of God. And then one day he got picked up for for drunk driving for like the second time. [01:05:05]
Now, he wasn't a citizen and he was afraid that his green card was going to be revoked and he was afraid he might be deported and all of a sudden he was interested in the things of God. but he was a construction worker, had his own business, and and he used the money to hire the right lawyer and got himself out of the mess that he was in. But all along the way, I kept talking to him and telling him that that you've got to change. You can't keep living like this. And one day, I was able to pray with him, and he seemed to to be excited about the things of God. And it looked like he was saved and he was maybe even born again and he started coming to church and and he helped me paint the entire parsonage and and he was starting to get plugged in and we were looking to have a baptism service with him being baptized. [01:05:38]
And that same time, his father in Mexico was kidnapped and and held at ransom. And the family tried to put together some money uh to pay off uh the kidnappers, but they found the body of his father that was brutally beaten and and killed in Mexico. Well, this sent this gentleman off the rails. He went to drinking and I remember pleading with him in his garage while his wife and children were crying in the house. And I said, "You cannot you cannot you cannot do this?" He said, "Where was God in all of this?" I said, "We know God was there, but why did he let it happen?" I don't have the answers for that, but I know the answer is not to turn to what you're turning to right now. [01:06:11]
Well, he didn't listen to me, and eventually he back into drinking. He was caught driving drunk once again, and this time he was deported., and his wife divorced him and his children uh didn't want to have anything else to do with him. And so in Mexico, he's calling me and pleading with me. And I've seen over and over stories like this happen where alcohol does such inter terrible harm. Ephesians 5:18 says, "Don't be drunk with wine, but because that will ruin your life. instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. A sign of the Holy Spirit is self-control. And sometimes your addiction is just stupid decisions. And sometimes it your addiction is a result of demonic oppression. [01:06:44]
But verse 11 says this is the first sign of of John chapter 2. And we see the signs that that are not the reality themselves, but they point us to the reality. The reason that Jesus does these miracles is not so that he could have a record of miracles and prove his divinity. The reason he does these miracles is to point us to the way of salvation. Jesus is more interested in pointing us to himself than to the sign. Now if you see a sign that says inverness five miles or holder five miles, we know that sign is not holder. We know that sign is not inverous. It's merely pointing us to the reality down the road. Right? [01:07:17]
And these miracles are not what we should seek after. But but we should recognize these miracles are what are moving us and pointing us to the God of the miracles who wants to continue to do a work in our own lives. So if we're not careful, we can get caught up chasing the signs and the miracles instead of the miracle maker. So why did Jesus turn the water into wine? I've got some pretty heavy theological re reasons for this. So you have to put your thinking cap on. Why did Jesus turn the water into wine? Because his mom asked him. There was a need and mom asked him. Prayer is a bit of a mystery, isn't it? [01:07:50]
I mean, sometimes we pray and we've got great faith and it seems like God doesn't answer the way we want him to answer. Other times we pray and we hardly have any faith and lo and behold there it it happens. Prayer is a bit of a mystery. But God has chosen to work through us and not always the way that we want but he he chooses to work through us and we are to be his hands and his feet. And so I'm saying today if the tomb is is empty then anything is possible. Now, hopefully when you when you came in the the the room today, you were handed one of these cards. And what I want to give you is an opportunity to fill in the blank. [01:08:23]
If the tomb is empty, whatever you have on your heart is possible. Maybe it's a brother that needs to come to Christ. Maybe it's a house that you need to find. Maybe it's a new job. Maybe it's salvation for a spouse or for a grandchild. Or maybe you need a healing touch from God. If the tomb is empty, anything is possible. And I want you to just fill that out and and to remind yourself because sometimes we need to be reminded. Sometimes we forget, right? Sometimes we believe, but we need help with in our unbelief. And I want to encourage you to fill this out and and and remember to pray. [01:08:56]
And as you pray, to remember that the tomb is empty. And Jesus has done this incredible miracle, this sign. And he's not done. He's still in the miracle making business, no matter how big or how small. And I said it kind of off the cuff. Why does Jesus turn the water into wine? Because mom asked him. You know Jesus loves Mary. Did you know that? He loves his mom. But Jesus not only loves his mom, but he loves you. Each and every one of you, he loves. He handcrafted you in your mother's womb. He You are not here by accident. Jesus loves you and and he cares for you. [01:09:29]
And the things that you might think are just little things, it's not a big deal. I need a new car. My car's broke down. It It's not running very good. Jesus loves you and he cares. He knows what you need. And you can write that thing down, no matter how big or how small, and know that Jesus loves you. And we have a privilege to go and ask him. If the tomb is empty, Pastor Josh read, "A healthy marriage is possible. If the tomb is empty, a healed body is possible. If the tomb is empty, you can live with peace. You don't have to deal with anxiety that rules your life or depression that controls you. [01:10:02]
If the tomb is empty, any addiction can be broken. If the tomb is empty, you don't have to live in condemnation for your past. If the tomb is empty, you can be set free from sin. So why does Jesus turn the water into wine? His mom asked him. Secondly, the purpose is the sign is to point us to God who is the source of life, his redemptive purposes. God can transform our life from the inside out. And that's his desire. Salvation is not just trying to be good. That's just sin management. God's not interested in just sin management. God's interested in transformation. He's interested in heart change. He's interested in breaking free from the bonds of sin and shame and and giving us new life. [01:10:35]
So God makes the new out of the old, right? God takes plain old water and makes wine out of that water. He's got a way of making taking our old lives and and making something new, something even better than we can think or imagine. And God's interested in this this wedding ceremony. He's interested in the wedding. If you read the scriptures from the very beginning, you have Adam and Eve and you've got this this marriage of Adam and Eve and God sets forth the purpose of of man and woman that they're to come together. But in the end of the the Bible, we have another wedding, the married supper of the lamb, where the bride that's been prepared for the bridegroom comes together. [01:11:08]
And you know who is the bride? That's us, the church. And that's what we're looking forward to. That's what we have to look forward to. And Jesus starts off his his earthly ministry here with a miracle with the sign at the wedding. I think Jesus wants us to remember that this wedding is what it's about. This this bringing together of God and man coming together. You You see, in the beginning, God created Adam and Eve that they might walk with him in the cool of the day, that they would have a relationship with him, an ongoing day-by-day relationship. And then we see at the end of of the scriptures that the heaven is described, the new heaven is described as the dwelling place of God with man. [01:11:41]
That's the highlight. And we celebrate at Christmas with all the parties and all the lights and all the celebration at Christmas is God with us. Emmanuel. That's what it's all about. That's the gospel in a nutshell, folks. God with us. People that tell me that that they plan to go to heaven and they spend the rest of their life trying to avoid God, that doesn't make any sense to me. I and sometimes I'll invite people to come to church and well well I I don't want to do that. I'm not interested in that. Well, why not? God tells us to come together and when we come together, his presence is here with us. [01:12:14]
Well, I can I can worship God just as well somewhere else. That's not what the scriptures say. The scriptures say it's important for us as a family of God to come together and worship together. That's what the scriptures tell us. And some of us have experienced that firsthand. And we know that God wants to be with us. God wants to to commune with us. And if we spend all of our life trying to avoid him, why why in the world do we think that we would be comfortable in heaven? Because God's you can't avoid him in in heaven. His his presence, his majesty is going to be everywhere. you won't be able to avoid it. [01:12:47]
Well, this sign points us to this union. I think points us to a God who loves us and who wants to know us. And it doesn't matter what you've done in your past. It doesn't matter how you've been hurt in the past. It doesn't matter your bad experiences in church. God still loves you. He's still calling you to come and be together with him. He wants to restore that broken relationship. And if the tomb is empty, anything is possible. Those relationships can be mended. Those broken marriages can be mended. That addiction can be broken. You can experience the peace of God where you live in uncertainty and anxiety. [01:13:20]
Anything is possible because that tomb is empty. And our God is alive and he hasn't stopped working miracles. So, I just want to invite you to stand together. We're going to close with a word of prayer. But what miracle are you needing in your life? Where do you need to see God work? Don't give up. Leave it at his feet and trust and obey. Do you believe him? Do you believe that he wants what's best for you? He loves you like he loves his mother. He died for you. Don't miss that opportunity to be restored and come together in right relationship with the living God. [01:13:53]
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