Transforming Shortages into Miracles Through Faith

Today, we gathered to remember that God is not only present in our celebrations, but also in our crises, our shortages, and our “middle moments.” Drawing from John 2, the story of Jesus turning water into wine, we explored how God often allows us to reach the end of our own resources—not to punish us, but to position us for a miracle. The running out of wine at the wedding was not just a logistical problem, but a symbol of joy, honor, and covenant running dry. Sometimes, God lets our visible shortages expose the hidden structures of self-reliance in our lives, so that we might finally build on the right foundation—His presence and power.

We saw that the real issue at the wedding was not the empty jars, but the empty strategy: Jesus was invited, but not involved. Too often, we put God on the guest list of our lives, but not at the center. The miracle began not with motion, but with a mindset shift. Mary’s faith was not in her own plan, but in her posture—she simply acknowledged the lack and made room for Jesus to move. The greatest miracles God performs are not just around us, but within us, as He renews our minds and transforms our perspectives.

Obedience became the bridge between crisis and creativity. Jesus’ instruction to fill the jars with water was not flashy or impressive, but it was faithful. Sometimes, God’s greatest demonstrations of power come dressed in the plain clothes of practicality. The servants filled the jars to the brim, showing all-in trust. The miracle happened not in the pouring, but in the in-between—the space where faith must function without confirmation, where we carry water even when we expect wine.

God is not just interested in changing our circumstances, but in changing our mindsets. He repurposes what is ordinary, overlooked, or even broken, and fills it with new purpose and glory. The “middle” is often messy, but it is also holy ground, because it is where God moves in mystery and manifests His power. Even when we don’t see the outcome, we are called to stand, to obey, and to trust that God is working in the unseen. The same God who turned water into wine is able to turn our weakness into witness, our obedience into overflow, and our middle moments into miracles.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God allows visible shortages to expose hidden self-reliance, not to ruin us but to rebuild us. When we reach the end of our own resources, it is often an invitation to let go of pride and self-sufficiency, and to let God become our true source. The miracle begins when we stop performing full and start confessing empty, making room for God to move in ways we could not imagine. [18:04]
• 2. The miracle starts with a mindset shift, not just a change in circumstances. Mary’s response to the crisis was not to scheme or strategize, but to acknowledge the lack and trust Jesus. Our greatest transformation happens when we move God from the margins to the center of our thinking, allowing Him to renew our minds and align our perspectives with His purpose. [21:54]
• 3. Obedience is the bridge between crisis and creativity. God’s instructions may seem mundane or insufficient for the size of our problems, but miracles are often born out of simple, faithful acts. When we obey fully—filling the jars to the brim—we create space for God to do what only He can do, even if we don’t see immediate results. [34:53]
• 4. God repurposes the ordinary and overlooked for extraordinary purposes. The water jars at the wedding were not designed for celebration, but for cleansing. Yet, Jesus used them for a new purpose, showing that God does not discard what seems unremarkable; He fills it with new vision and glory. Our willingness to be used, even when we feel ordinary, positions us for God’s overflow. [32:25]
• 5. The “middle” is holy ground where faith must function without confirmation. The servants carried water, not knowing when or how it would become wine. In our own lives, we often find ourselves in the in-between, where outcomes are uncertain. Yet, it is in this space that God moves most powerfully, turning our obedience and trust into miracles that testify to His faithfulness. [44:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:34] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [03:07] - “I’m a Soldier” Song and Praise
• [08:21] - Congregational Greeting
• [09:03] - Scripture Reading: John 2
• [10:33] - “I Ain’t Come Here for This”: Introduction
• [11:08] - The Importance of Timing and Capacity
• [14:53] - The Perceived Problem: Running Out of Wine
• [18:04] - Exposing Self-Reliance and Emptiness
• [21:54] - Mindset as the Miracle’s Meeting Ground
• [25:08] - God as the True Source
• [29:13] - Practical Preparation: Obedience in Action
• [32:25] - Repurposing the Ordinary for God’s Glory
• [34:53] - Obedience: The Bridge to Creativity
• [39:02] - Mindset Shifts and Full Obedience
• [44:48] - The Miracle in the Middle
• [50:10] - Standing in the Middle of a Miracle
• [54:12] - God Turns Weakness into Witness
• [57:45] - Holding On in the Middle
• [59:12] - Exalting Jesus as Lord
• [61:13] - Invitation to Salvation
• [63:56] - Announcements and Closing
• [68:19] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

1. What was the significance of the wine running out at the wedding in Cana? How did the people at the wedding respond to this crisis? ([16:44])
2. According to the sermon, what was the real issue at the wedding—was it just the empty wine jars, or something deeper? ([18:43])
3. What instructions did Jesus give to the servants, and how did they respond? What details does the text give about their obedience? ([40:59])
4. When did the actual miracle of water turning into wine happen—was it during the pouring, the carrying, or at another moment? ([44:05])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that God sometimes allows visible shortages to expose hidden self-reliance. Why might God allow us to “run out” in certain areas of our lives? ([18:04])
2. Mary’s response to the crisis was not to offer a plan, but to acknowledge the lack and trust Jesus. What does this teach about the kind of faith God is looking for? ([21:13])
3. The servants filled the jars “to the brim.” What does this detail suggest about the kind of obedience God desires from us? ([41:35])
4. The “middle” or “in-between” moment—when the servants carried water not knowing it would become wine—was described as “holy ground.” Why is the “middle” so important in our faith journey? ([44:48])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Sometimes God will allow a public shortage to expose a private structure of self-reliance.” Can you think of a time when you ran out of something (energy, resources, hope) and it revealed something deeper about your trust in God? How did you respond? ([18:04])
2. The pastor said, “They invited Jesus, but they didn’t involve him.” In what areas of your life have you put Jesus on the guest list but not at the center? What would it look like to move him from the margins to the center this week? ([18:43])
3. Mary simply acknowledged the lack and made room for Jesus to move. Is there a place in your life where you need to stop “performing full” and start “confessing empty” to God? What’s holding you back from being honest with God about your needs? ([27:04])
4. The servants obeyed Jesus’ instructions even though it seemed mundane and didn’t make sense for the size of the problem. Is there a simple, practical step of obedience God is asking you to take right now, even if it doesn’t seem impressive? ([30:36])
5. The “middle” is where faith must function without confirmation. Are you currently in a “middle moment” where you don’t see the outcome yet? How can you keep carrying water when you’re hoping for wine? ([44:48])
6. The sermon said, “God repurposes the ordinary and overlooked for extraordinary purposes.” Is there something in your life that feels ordinary or overlooked that God might want to use for his glory? ([32:25])
7. The pastor said, “You can’t expect brim level blessings from bottom shelf obedience.” What would it look like for you to give God “all-in” trust in a specific area this week? ([41:35])