Don't Miss The Miracle

The Grave Robber: Don’t Miss the Miracle John 14:12 I’ve been reading a book called The Grave Robber by Mark Batterson. In this book, the author talks about the incredible power behind the seven miracles that Jesus performed in the Gospel of John, showing us how they’re not just something Jesus did in the past but also something He wants us to do through us right now, in the present. Right before Jesus ascended to heaven He charged us to do something that seems impossible. Listen to what He said in…

John 14:12

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Now you might hear these words and say, “Well, Jesus wasn’t talking to us. He was talking to the disciples”. Listen to it again. Jesus said, “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also”. Now that’s amazing all by itself, but He doesn’t stop there. He goes on to say, “and greater works than these he will do”. What? That’s crazy! Jesus says that not only will those who believe in Him do works just like He did, but He also said that we will do even greater works than He did!

Here’s what I’ve come to realize. There’s a big difference between what we say we believe and how we actually live our lives. Some of you may have heard of the Jefferson Bible. Thomas Jefferson decided that since he couldn’t scientifically prove the miracles that Jesus performed throughout the gospels, he would print his own edition of the bible and leave them out all together. It’s called the Jefferson Bible.

Now I don’t know about you, but I have a problem with that. How can a person believe that God created the universe and everything in it just by speaking it into existence and not believe in the miracles that Jesus performed throughout His earthly ministry? I call that cut-and-paste Christianity. It’s where we take the things of the bible that we like and ignore the things that we don’t. The problem with that is God is an all-or-nothing God. People who practice cut-and-paste Christianity end up with a small god who looks an awful lot like themselves.

Missing, or not accepting, the miracles in Jesus’ life will cause us to miss the miracles God wants to perform in ours.

So how can we take what Jesus says in John 14:12 and make it a reality? Without explaining it away, or watering it down, or twisting the meaning? This morning I want to share with you exactly how we can carry out the charge Jesus gives us in that verse. The first thing we gotta do is put things into…

Proper Perspective

A girl who had moved away to go to college wrote her dad this letter:

Dear Dad,

Sorry I haven’t written sooner. I recently broke my arm when I jumped from he second floor of my dorm which caught on fire. We were lucky though, a janitor saw the smoke from across campus and called the Fire Department. I was in the hospital for a few days. Paul, the janitor, came to see me every day. And because it was taking so long to get our dorm back to live-able conditions, I moved in with him. I must admit though that I’m pregnant. Paul and I plan to get married just as soon as his divorce is final. I hope things are good at home.

Love,

Susie

P.S. None of the above is true. But I did get a "C" in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its "Proper Perspective!”

So how can we do greater works than Jesus? This was a man who fed 5,000 people with a sack lunch! This was a man who walked on water!

JOKE

A Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist preacher went fishing:

The Methodist forgot his worms so he got out of the boat, walked on the water to shore, and then walked on the water again back to boat! The Baptist said, “What faith!”

The Presbyterian forgot his lunch so he too sprinted across the water, got his lunch and came back. The Baptist said, “That’s incredible! I’m in the presence of greatness, but I believe I have faith too!”

So when the time came, the Baptist decided he needed to use the restroom so he stepped out of boat…and sunk to bottom!

The Methodist looked over at the Presbyterian and said, “You think we should we tell him where the rocks are?”

Now, do you think we will we actually walk on water? Raise the dead? No. So then how are we supposed to top things like that?