Where are the miracles today?

Ephesians 3:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We don't see miracles today because we have not allowed the power of God to work within us.  Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine!  What can you imagine, can you believe!  I have asked the question: why did that dying child not get healed?  The local church prayed for him.  The whole community prayed for him.  Churches across the south east prayed for him.  Yet he died.  Others are sick among us.  I do not believe it is God's will that anyone be sick in body. Yet, we are.  Can God heal us?  Yes He can.  He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  So settle it now.  God is able and willing to do great things in our lives.  Further, I want to say that I believe the Church prayed with all the faith they could muster.  I would not go to say that the Church does not believe God can heal our infirmaries.  But the Church may have a problem believing in a full expression of God's power presently in our midst.

So why, then, are the miracles missing in our Churches today?  The miracles occur according to His power that is at work within us.  The Church as toned down our expectation of God and the presentation of His power.  I know God wants them to happen.  Verse 21 says that He wants to be glorified in His Church and in Christ Jesus.  Let's read:

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Paul spoke to the Corinthians that he did not use wise and persuasive words but presented the gospel with demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.  God wants to demonstrate His power.  God wants your faith on His Power and not on great arguments from the pulpit.  But we have only heard great arguments from the pulpit.  We have been exposed to great oratory skills and it touched our hearts. We have faith.  Yes, even a saving faith.  But where is the faith for miracles?  Miracles are few and far between in today's American Churches.  And this is not God's will!  We have convinced ourselves that God does not want to do miracles within the Church.  I have heard a quote just the other day:  "God will not do something for you that you can do for yourself."  I might go with: "God will not do something for you that you should be doing for yourself."  The overall suggestion is that we have to depend on ourselves.  But I declare that we should be depending on God.  And yes, do for yourselves, and trust God.  In somethings we have found an alternative to God but the response we get is not as good or as complete as God's response.  So we find us trusting in things other than God and not trusting or depending on God at all.     

Let us talk about how we have or have not allowed the power of God to exist in our lives. Do you believe God to help you live a sin free life?  God has given us the power not to sin. Are you allowing that power to work in your life?  Are you chasing a life of the foolishness of sin and still expecting the other aspects of the power of God to work in you life?  God cannot do much in a Church that is not striving to be holy!  God is holy. His Spirit is holy. God cannot do great miracles in an unbelieving Church.  If we believe in God's holiness, we will desire to be like Him and strive for holiness also.  You know it is God's will that you live a holy life.  Yet I have run into so many folks that have accepted the sinful nature as fact and have quit striving to live sin free at least in certain areas of their life. 

Are we living by faith or by sight?  In other words: are you trusting God?  If we believe God and yet do not live a life showing that we actually trust God then what proof is there in our lives that we trust in the power of God?  We are in yet another way denying the power of God to fully exist in our lives. If we trust God, our actions will be of those that trust God.  Else, we will be withdrawn and hold back our love, our joy, our peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  For instance, if you don't trust God then how can you be a cheerful giver?  How can you pray for good for your enemy if you can't trust God to protect you?  But that is God's command!  Are your business tactics of faith?  Do you present your products in an honest way?  Do you go the extra mile to provide a quality completed product?  Or do you skim on the quality to get done quickly so that you don't actually provide the product you promised?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Living by faith is demonstrated by obedience to Gods principles including:

Tithing – Do you give the first fruits of your income for the purposes of God?

Offerings – Do you give charity to the needy and for special causes?

Prayer – Are you developing a relationship with God?

Bible Study – Are you studying God's Word?  This is where you learn who God is.

Witnessing – Are you excited about God? Let the River of Life flow through you with energetic emotion?

Other Services – Are you fitting into the Body of Christ by performing a useful function within the Church?

In some of these areas I'm preaching to myself.  I'm not perfect but I'm submitting myself to God for his refining fire.  You should too. 

Finally, be baptized in the Spirit (filled with the Holy Spirit) - Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  God promised us a teacher, a comforter, one to give us insight, words to say when challenged.  In Acts chapter 2, God baptized all the disciples with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is here for you.  Even Jesus declared that the miracles He performed were done through the Holy Spirit.  Give the Holy Spirit a place in your life.

If you find that you have allowed sin in your life you should repent and separate yourself from that lifestyle.  Second your life style should demonstrate your faith in the power of God. Become obedient to God in living a holy life.  Let God work in your life as you become obedient to his principles, commands and laws.  You know them, they are summarized in this:  Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  And finally, the last but not least is to receive the Holy Spirit.  Miracles will come as we learn to allow God to express His power in our lives.

Living as a True Christian

I want to talk today about living as a true Christian.  Since it is my hope and expectation that many Christians from all denominations across the world get the opportunity to read this.  I want to let you know that not just any old way of living is acceptable to God.  Let's read what Paul said to the Corinthians:

 

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. ²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Why is Paul afraid of discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder?  Because it does not belong in the Church!  The Church is also called the Body of Christ and is supposed to be a smooth working body.  Each member working both in unity and in corporation and also functioning independently to complete the tasks given by God as assigned to the Church, united members and individual Christians.  The arm and the hand have to work together to reach and grab things.  But the left arm and the left hand have to work together and sometimes have to work independently from the right arm and the right hand.  But how can this be in the Church if there are all these disorders among the Christians in the Church.  If the body needs to swing the hammer to strike a nail and the hand won't grab the hammer, how will it be successful.  These sins of the church and the members of the church keep the church from functioning well.  Some projects are more visible that others and we get jealous of those who get the visible jobs.  Or we get envious of the arm whose strength is greater than the hand.

Then Paul is also afraid of unrepented sins of impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged (or continuing to indulge).  These are different than the first list.  They are less about the unity and working together and more about a church portraying itself in poor light among the world of unbelievers.  It is about people in the Church actually not living as a Christian.  They think Christ came only to forgive sins and to allow us to continue in those sinful ways.  This is not so.  It should never be that a Christian will continue in sin.  Sin is wrong. Christ gave us His grace not only to forgive us from sin but to give us power over sin.  He calls all men to no longer to walk in sin. Consider this next verse:

2 Corinthians 13:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

What test?  The test is do you believe in Christ, believe in His grace, and believe that Christ died for your sins and set you free from sin.  If Christ is in us and we have yielded our bodies too Him how then can we sin?  Is Christ trying to tear down His body with discord?  No! Is Christ trying to show a message of sin when we know Christ cannot sin?  Again, no! If we have totally yielded our bodies to Christ we cannot sin.  So if we sin, we have taken our bodies back from Christ.  If we get caught off guard and forget that we have dedicated our bodies to Christ, He understands and forgives us.  We should labor to no longer sin in this way.  But when we willfully choose to take our bodies back and no longer yield our bodies to Christ, we endeavor on a dangerous path.  I say, repeating Paul, test yourselves.  Are you yielding your body to Christ? Or, perhaps, you have taken your body back and are doing your own thing?

Let me end with Paul's verse from Romans:

Romans 12:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you have believed God's message and have received Christ as your savior, your body belongs to Christ. If you have tested yourself and have found that you have taken your body back and are living in willful sin.  Repent! Stop sinning! And ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins. Ask Jesus to help you overcome those areas in your life that have tempted you and caused you to go astray.

Thanks.

Why Christ for me?

When I was in eighth grade one of my school mates went to a church and she said I don't see any purpose in this. I don't think she went back to church for a long time.  Maybe you see how the world presents Christianity and are asking the same questions.  I have to admit, the Christian examples I see as a whole makes me wonder if this is what Christianity is supposed to be.  How are we going to let the world know how good we have it if we don't live like we got it?  First there is some confusion about what we have.  Christianity is not a guarantee of the easiest live ever imagined.  On the contrary, being a Christian will require tough decisions.  It will require great commitment. Your walk with Christ may lead you into persecution.  You may have to live less luxurious life than you are capable. But why would one give up luxury, riches, fame and so on to be a Christian.  I think the answer is best answered by the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  You see, before the Israelites were even a people or a race their father Abraham went to Egypt during a great famine along with his whole clan that consisted of about 70 men.  They took up residence and grew into a large crowd.  Pharaoh decided that the Israelites were too big and put them into slavery to not only make money off them but to control them so they would never turn to benefit one of their enemies.  Egypt, once the land of survival, became their harsh and demanding slave master.  God had foretold this to Abraham that his people would be slaves in a foreign land but that God would bring them out.  In Exodus, below, God makes a promise to the leaders of Israel that I think you should read:

Exodus 6:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.⁷ I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

God makes promises I would like to repeat for you:

1.  I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

2.  I will free you from being slaves to them.

3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

4.  I will take you as my own people and I will be your God.

You can read Exodus or watch the "Ten Commandments" movie to see how this unfolded.  But I want to draw a parallel with another bible story that begins with Adam and Eve.  You see, in Genesis, they were in the Garden of Eden and there was a tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  God specifically told Adam and Eve that you must not eat of this tree or you would die.  Now Adam and Eve were living spiritual beings. They were immortal, that they would live forever.   Adam had all authority under God over the earth to subdue it.  Now Satan came and deceived Eve and convinced her that the fruit of this tree would be good to make her and Adam as wise as God knowing good and evil.  So she sinned first and then gave the fruit to Adam and he also sinned.  They died a spiritual death.  They were no longer immortal beings.  They lost their God given authority over the earth and they came into bondage to the curses of their sins.  Their children including us were born to the same bondage of sin and eventual death.

Now God, His son, Jesus Christ, came.  Not under the inheritance of sin like you and I, but under freedom from sin.  He is not a literal son of Adam since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  But is God's literal Son and did not inherit Adam's sin.  Mankind was in a fix.  There was only one way to fix the problem.  Jesus had to purchase back the keys to death, Hell and the grave.  He had to conquer sin and death.  To do this, He had to pay the ultimate price for our sins.  He had to die on a cross.  If Jesus had sinned prior to the cross, the sacrifice would have been meaningless for He would have lost the battle.  But He did not lose the battle.  He lived a sinless life and became a sacrifice without blemish.

Now there are promises we have if we believe in Christ.  See what Jesus did parallels the promises God made to Egypt:

1.  He removed me from the burden of Sin.  I was captured in sin.  Sin mastered me.  If I wanted to do good I was fighting against my captivity.  Sin, as you know, drags you deeper and deeper into bondage.  It puts burdens on you that spiral down into hopelessness.  For example, drugs, take a little bit of a chemical to get high.  Maybe someone gives it too you.  It gives you a short thrill for a time and then it wears off.  You want more so it cost you and it will eventually take all you have; your dignity, your job, your resources and eventually your life.  Sin has become your slave master.  It has trapped you and you have no escape.

2.  He set me free from the slavery to Sin.  When God removed the Israelites from Egypt, they no longer had their daily burdens to perform, but they still had an attitude of slavery.  Even some Christians I know think that God forgave us of our sins but they still flounder in gross sin.  But I tell you that Jesus did more than forgive us of our sins.  He gave us the power to live without sin just as Jesus lived without sin. 

3.  He redeemed me with His very life.  As we have already discussed, Jesus died for my sins.  He redeemed me from my on curse.  He paid a price for me that I deserved to pay.  When Christ died on the Cross, He paid the penalty for my sins.  I am no longer slave to sin, but I have been set free.  I am no longer dead spiritually.  Christ said "If you believe in me, you will never die."  He did not die just for my sins but for yours also.

4.  He made me His son and gave me His name. I am now an heir to Christ.  Jesus said that He is going to prepare for me a building in His Kingdom.  You know, where He went, my body cannot go.  So Christ gave me a living spirit and there I will also get a new body to go with my living spirit.

5.  He has promised a place with Him eternally.  I want you to understand something.  Not only do I have a promise that my spirit will never die.  But when I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, God Himself, made me a dwelling for His Holy Spirit. Read the scripture below:

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶  ...  For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people."

¹⁷ Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you."

 ¹⁸ And, “I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

New International Version (NIV)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

What a great thing Christ has done for us.  I have chosen Christ as my Lord, Savior and my God.  He promises you eternal life.  But just as important, freedom from sin and the burden of sin.  He paid for your sins.  You just have to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.  But know this; God will not dwell in a disrespectful temple.  You have to repent of your sins.  Repentance is not just an apology but an honest attempt to no longer sin or do those things you once did.  Look to His grace to help you.  You cannot do it on your own.  Paul said in the verses above to "come out from them and be separate".  He also said "let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

Do you love your sin and your bondage just like the Egyptians did?  While they were in the desert, instead of moving forward with God, they desired the old life back in Egypt.  You have a decision to make.  Now is a good time for you may not have another.  Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.  By God's grace you can walk away from the bondage and the burden's of sin and be truly free.  Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and receive His eternal life.

As you can see, when you believe in Christ, you know you are free.   The girl from 8^th grade now has cancer and her only hope is in Christ.  Only God knows how her life would of been changed if she allowed Jesus to set her free from bondage years ago.  But many Christians fail to understand what freedom from sin really can mean because while they are free, they do not leave the bondage.  They voluntarily hang around and continued to serve sin.  This should not be so.  America is is dire straights because we have left the God that made this country great.  We have chosen an arrogant path of willful sin. While many claim to be Christians, only a few left the sin and the bondage behind and served Christ.  To repeat Paul's words again.  "Come out from them and be separate".  God did not just forgive us of our sins; He gave us POWER to not have to sin.  Are you a Christian still living in gross sin?  God calls you and empowers you to come out of sin for His names sake.  If you continue in willful sin, your salvation is in danger.

What I think is the most fascinating is that God chose to call us His people when we call on Him.  Do you comprehend what it means for the one and only God who created the universe to call you his own out of the whole world?  If God be for us, who can stand against us?  No one!

Finally, in the last days of this age, Christ will come back and with a mighty hand, with mighty works will save His people, those who have chosen Him as their God.  We call this Armageddon.  Here God and God alone will fight all those who have intentionally rejected Him. Multitudes upon multitudes of military might will come against God's people at Jerusalem and God will overwhelming destroy them.  Man will not participate in this great salvation.  It will be God's work alone.  This salvation is for those who have decided to live for God, those who decided that riches of this world are not ultimate goal but a relationship with God and having His Spirit dwelling inside.  You have to know, if you got the Holy Spirit dwelling inside, you will not want any part to sin because you feel the pain with Him in your spirit as you walk in failure.  When you strive for that very close relationship with Christ, the last thing you will want to do is to offend His Spirit with willful sin.

Thanks,