THE EMMANUEL FACTOR: WHEN HEAVEN INVADES EARTH
HEALING AND MIRACLE SERVICE
OPENING TEXT:
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).
THE BIG IDEA: The Christmas Story is about the Emmanuel Factor – the presence of Jesus – Heaven Invading Earth. And because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and Jesus is alive and well, we can expect miracles in our lives today!
• How would it change our lives if we believed Emmanuel was with us today?
QUOTE: “For most churches, very little of what we do is dependent upon the Holy Spirit. If He were not to show up, most churches would never miss Him. Billy Graham is credited with saying, “95% of today’s church activities would continue if the Holy Spirit were removed from us. In the early Church, 95% of all her activities would have stopped if the Holy Spirit were removed.” I agree.” (Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth).
• This morning, we are taking a step of faith & believing God for miracles!
• I believe GOD’S GOD A MIRACLE WAITING ON YOU!
• “Faith comes by hearing the Word.” (Romans 10:17). Lots of Word today!
KEY TEXT:
“28 And having come in, the angel said to Mary, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:28-37).
• Mary’s response to the angel? “How can this be?” Impossible!
• The angel’s response: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you… The power of the Highest will overshadow you… With God, nothing will be impossible!”
QUOTE: “It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus.” (Bill Johnson).
1. EMMANUEL CAME TO BRING GOOD NEWS!
“Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10).
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:17-18).
• Most significant truth in the Bible – Jesus came to change EVERYTHING!
• Christmas is all about remembering Jesus came – all about MIRACLES!
2. EMMANUEL CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38).
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).
• Sickness is one of the works of the devil.
3. EMMANUEL WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION AND HEALED THE SICK
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36).
4. EMMANUEL CARRIED THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF THE LORD
“Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” (Luke 5:17).
STORY: “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.” (Matthew 9:20-22).
5. WHEN EMMANUEL IS PRESENT – THERE ARE OPEN HEAVENS
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17).
6. EMMANUEL WANTS US TO PRAY THAT HEAVEN WOULD INVADE EARTH
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10).
• What is God’s will in Heaven? There is no sickness there.
7. EMMANUEL IS MOVED WITH COMPASSION FOR THE SICK
“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14).
• Through His words and actions, Jesus demonstrated that He is compassionate.
• It’s a crime to think that God makes His children sick to teach them a lesson!
8. EMMANUEL IS WILLING TO HEAL THE SICK
“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed…Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him.” (Matthew 8:2-7).
• We know God CAN heal, and HAS healed in the past, but we question His willingness to heal TODAY.
9. EMMANUEL WANTS US TO HEAL THE SICK, TOO!
“And as you go, preach, saying, ’The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8).
“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.” (John 14:12).
10. WE NEED THE EMMANUEL FACTOR TODAY
“And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature… And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:15-20).
HOW TO PRAY FOR HEALING:
1. Ask in the Name of Jesus
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).
2. Believe that You Will Receive
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24).
3. Continue asking until you receive – Pray Until Something Happens
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.” (Luke 18:1, NLT).
• STORY: From Alpha: Dominic’s word; praying for Rosanne 3 times (headache)
• STORY: David, Geoff & I praying for a blind man to be healed – seven times!
CLOSING: Prayer for the Sick:
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
