From Ordinary to extra ordinary
? Johns gospel is philosophical, polemic, practical and profound book
? It is one of the most loved gospels by Indian Christian theologians like Sadhu Sundhar Singh, Appasawmy, Bramanadha Upadhyay
The main themes of John are Love, Light and Life
? During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ performed miracles by touching, healing, and transforming countless lives.
? He overcame the laws of nature and even raised the dead, proving he has power over life and death.
? Like other events in the life of Jesus, his miracles were documented by eyewitnesses and recorded in biblical history.
Jesus's Miracles
o The four Gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus, with Mark's Gospel recording the most.
o Three New Testament words refer to Jesus's miracles: power, sign, and wonder.
o Every miracle of Jesus served a specific purpose in God's plan of salvation for humankind.
Does God still perform miracles today
Absolutely yes
What is a miracle?
? A miracle — the supernatural intervention of God.
? A miracle is a supernatural intervention of God in a crisis situation
We all need a miracle at some time to simply jump-start our faith.
There are so many miracles recorded in the bible, starting from OT to NT
But the the most important miracle in the Bible is the virgin birth of Jesus
There are Four Primary Types of Miracles
Miracles Over Nature
A miracle over nature would be a miracle performed over natural things.
Jesus turned water into unfermented wine in John, chapter 2. That was a miracle over nature because those were natural elements.
Jesus is still performing miracles of nature all over the Earth. People do not see them when they do not believe in them. God desires for you to experience miracles over nature.
Miracles of Supply
Miracles of Healing
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
HEALING ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND ALL MANNER OF DISEASE among the people." (Matthew 4:23)
? Jesus created your body. He can restore your body when it begins to malfunction
Miracles Over Demon Powers
"And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and CAST OUT MANY DEVILS; AND SUFFERED NOT THE DEVILS TO SPEAK, because they knew him." (Mark 1:32-34
? No matter how great the manifestation of demon powers in the Ministry of Jesus, they could never hold their own against Him.
Demon spirits today, as in Bible days, still cause dumbness, deafness, foaming, fits, insanity, teeth gnashing, sickliness, sickness, suicide, screaming and exhaustion. Jesus, through Believers, is still exerting power over all physical and spiritual manifestations of Satan and demon spirits.
? Jesus is still drawing men and women to Himself through miracles over nature, miracles of supply, miracles of healing and miracles over demon powers.
In John 2, we read the story of Jesus performing his first miracle: turning water into wine.
Sometimes lackness is good.
1.We often seek God in times of need ( Lackness)
2. It is in lackness that God reveal His glory
3. God can be introduced to others in lackness
4. We often get the greatest blessings in our lackness
5. Man's helplessness can be understood in lackness
6. we Know that our calculations are wrong in lack
7. It is in need that we truly recognize those we have
God is a God of miracles.
Chapter 2 starts with like on the 3rd day
When is it?
Sabath ends in Saturday night, then Sunday is the 1st dat, Monday 2nd day and tues day would be 3rd day
Usually jews conduct their marriage on Tuesdays. Because people can travel soon after sabath
Usually people wont travel on sbath day
There are certain distance they can travel and they wont travel more than that
Characters in the marriage house of Cana
1. The groom
2. Mary
3. Servants
4. The ,master of banquet
5. Disciples of Jesus
6. Jesus brothers
7. Jesus
Jars in Wedding house
Why did Jesus chose these jars?
1. These were Useful containers
• The Lord used the vessels that were currently being used for His glory
• God called lives that were being useful at various levels to fulfill his duty
o Moses was a soldier and God called him to lead His people out of Egypt!
o David was a shepherd and God called him to rule His people!
o Amos was a shepherd too and God called him to be a prophet!
o Peter was a fisherman and Jesus called him to leave the nets and follow Him!
o Matthew was a tax-collector and Jesus called him to leave his office to serve Him fulltime!
o Paul was a tentmaker and God called him for a global service demanding all his time !
o Luke was a medical doctor and he joined Paul in the missionary tours!
Whatever may be your profession, God can call YOU!
God chooses the humble, the lowly, the meek, and the weak so that there's never any question about the source of power when their lives change the world
some of the unqualified and ordinary men and women God chose to work through to do the most unexpected things.
1. Noah – He drank too much, but, God used him to build the ark to save the world. (Genesis 6-9)
2. Abraham and Sarah – They were an old, washed-up couple who God used to build a nation. (Genesis 11-25)
3. Joseph – He was an entitled teen who went through God’s classroom, training him to save both Egypt and Israel. (Genesis 37-50)
4. Moses – He was a stutterer who was God’s spokesman and leader. (Exodus 3-4)
5. Rahab – She was a prostitute who God used to help his spies and overtake Jericho. (Joshua 2)
6. Jonah – He was the escapist who God brought back to save Nineveh. (Jonah 1-3)
7. Esther – She was the adopted orphan who became Queen to save Israel. (Esther 1-8)
8. Peter – He was the quitter who God brought back to start the Kingdom. (Matthew 26, John 21, Acts 1-2)
9. Paul – He was the enemy who became the most prolific Christian in the New Testament. (Acts 7-9)
2. These were clean jars
The inside of the vessel is clean
o After filling the container with water several times and taking the water out, the inside is clean
o God will not use unclean vessels
o The pharisees were outwardly clean
o Jesus called them once , you white washed tombs
o They pray in public to show others
o Pharisees rule were so rigid, unbending ( Nothing can be done on sabbath days)
3. These were refillable containers
o Filled till the brim
4. These jars were without any holes
5. they were unbroken vessels
o Those vessels had the power to hold the strength of the new wine
6. These Containers of different sizes
2:; 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons
7. There is a difference gifts
o 1 cori 12:4-5- 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
o There is a difference in talents
o Mathew 25: 14, 27, The Parable of the Bags of Gold
o 2, 5,1
o and there is a difference in rewards
Services in banquet house
Let us look at some of the blessed qualities found in those who came to the wedding house of Cana
1. Their obedience 2;5
Do whatever he tells you. They filled the water
God Delights in Obedience
o Obedience is so important for every Christian
o Obedience is the hallmark of our salvation
o Obedience is our way of showing God that we love Him
o our primary motive for obedience must be “to show God that we love Him”
o Obedience may require sacrifice; discipline and stretching ourselves outside our comfort zone.
Hebrews Chapter 8 gives an account of God’s men from the Old Testament who are recognized as heroes of faith as a result of their acts of obedience
• By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.
• By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
• By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.“
• By faith Joshua and the children of Israel obeyed and went round the walls of Jericho before they went crumbling on the 7th day.
Examples
• In the Bible, Abraham, Isaac and their children enjoyed God’s blessing because of obedience
• David even though he made a mistake was blessed and even called man’s after God’s won heart because of his obedience
• Today, some people are so blessed, they have so much wealth, thriving families successful children because of obedience
How to Obey
Obedience is not easy; it can be hard. It takes sacrifice
1. By having a relationship with God: Decide to honour God with our decisions and actions by doing what He tells us. Our primary motive for obedience must be to please God because we love Him. It’s easy to do something when we do it out of Love even when it’s uncomfortable.
Have you noticed how a man behaves when He is in Love with a woman, He will go out of His way to do things that He would ordinarily not do for other people because he wants to please that woman. He can spend huge amounts of money for that woman, he can kill for that woman.
Likewise, we must Love God with all our heart, mind and soul then obedience will be easy because our desire will be to honour God.
2. By reading the Bible every day as the primary basis for all our decisions and actions.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, which you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
3. Through Prayer
• Sometimes even when we know the things that God expects from us, acting on them will not be easy. Many times obedience means sacrifice; sometimes obedience can be painful; sometimes it can mean stretching ourselves outside our comfort Zone. On our own we may not be able to do it. We therefore need God’s help through the Holy Spirit to help us.
In the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus was tired and stressed up. The Human side of Him wanted to give up, He even prayed if God could take away the cup from Him but remembered to say “Not my will but your will”
• That’s the same prayer that we must pray every day; when obedience becomes difficult, when we are tempted to choose the easy way…we must always say “Not my will but your will” and act accordingly.
• Prayer will also make us sensitive to God’s word and will help us to hear His voice and know exactly what we must do.
4. By focusing on the reward
• Despite our main focus of obedience should be to show that we Love God, we should always remember there is a reward for obedience either in this life or the life after.
• When the devil tempts us to take the easy way out and act in rebellion always remember what you are missing out on.
• Be willing to do the hard things even when it doesn’t make sense because you know a blessing will follow, for yourself, and for your family.
Conclusion
• Obedience is act of Surrender, it is when we as Christians say “not my will Lord but Your will and align our actions with that will.“
• Obedience is not easy, many times it means taking the higher road doing things that are against our fleshly desires.
• Although difficult, obedience sets us apart as authentic children of God. God will know us by our obedience, even those around us will be inspired by our obedience.
• Obedience demonstrates our faith and trust in God; Obedience is the key to our success; Obedience is the sure and promised way for unlocking blessings for our lives.
• For us to be able to fully obey, we must read His word every day and ask God to empower us with His holy spirit so that our life is going to honour Him.
2. Their Labor 2:6-
• Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons
• Water was fetched and filled in the jars.
• They might have carried from a long distance
3. Their sincerity 2;7-
• Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
• So they filled them to the brim.
• They filled the vessel with water until it overflowed at the drop
• Some people pretend others that the are hard workers
• Sincere sinner on the cross
4. Their unity 2;5
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
• There was no disunity among them
• They were united. No one objected to the work
When Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them out two by two.
THERS IS A BLESSINGS IN UNITY
A. UNITY ATTRACTS GOD’S FAVOR & ANOINTING (GETS GOD’S ATTENTION)
B. UNITY LEADS TO GREATER PRODUCTIVITY
C. UNITY LEADS TO SUSTAINABILITY
THE HINDRANCES TO UNITY
A. UNFORGIVENESS
• The unwillingness to forgive someone who has wronged you hinders unity.
• And many times those that have wronged you may not have realized that they even hurt you
B. BITTERNESS
• Unforgiveness turns to bitterness & resentment.
• When we fail to forgive others, we hold on to our hurts…and we hold grudges against those that hurt us…and perhaps even have anger towards them.
C. JEALOUSY
• When we are jealous of others & what God does in their lives…and how God uses them…it creates division rather unity.
• When we covet other people’s gifts rather than celebrate their gifts…there will always be division.
• But let me say this - instead of being envious of someone else’s gift…discover your gift & use your gift.
KEYS TO RESTORING UNITY
A. PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER
• It’s difficult to be mad, angry, & hold grudges with others when you’re praying for them.
• Prayer changes things but most of all it changes us.
B. LOVING ONE ANOTHER
• The world will know that we belong to JC when we love one another.
• True love for one another will lead to real unity...and it takes the HS to produce real love.
• Love is a work of the HS...It is a fruit of the Spirit.
• Love should flow from our lives naturally as believers...and if we find that we aren’t that loving - then maybe we need to examine our lives to see if have really been saved.
• We may not always love perfectly but if we’re more hateful than loving...there’s a problem in our heart.
C. LETTING GO OF THE PAST
• This may be one of the hardest things to do but letting go of what is behind us will go a long way in helping us to build unity.
• This may be one of the hardest things to do but letting go of what is behind us will go a long way in helping us to build unity.
• Too many people can’t move on b/c they are stuck in the past.
• Whether it’s reliving the good times of the past...or reopening the wounds of the past...the past keeps a lot of people & a lot of churches stuck.
• But the past is over - We can’t change it...We can’t relive it.
• We can learn from it...but we can’t let it hold us hostage.
• We can’t let it divide us.
• We have to let go of the past so that we can move forward.
D. BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS
• This should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.
• The church should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.
• We are to rejoice with those who rejoice...and weep with those who weep.
NOTE: We aren’t in this Christian life alone.
No one here today should feel like they have to face what they are going through by themselves.
The family of God should be a support system for each other.
We should encourage one another...and we should be able to share what is going on in our lives w/o fear of judgment.
Our brothers & sisters in Christ should be able to count on us.
5. Their faith 2:8-
Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.
• Do you collect plain water and give it as wine? That’s their faith
Jesus said a little faith goes a long way
f you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you
When Faith takes Root the growth happens
to make your faith grow
1. Feed your faith. . .through the Word
Brother Kenneth Hagin said:
“Faith begins where the will of God is known.”
How do you know the will of God?
READ YOUR BIBLE. . .BEGIN DOING WHAT IT SAYS AND YOU WILL HAVE A GROWTH SPURT IN FAITH.
2. Exercise your faith. . .by your actions
3. Speak to your faith. . .to make it grow
4. Free your faith. . .from negativity
Brother Kenneth Hagin often said:
Feed your faith and starve your doubts.”
When doubt leaves your life . . .you are presented with unlimited opportunities.
5. Believing the impossible as possible
What my God has done for others he can still do for you
There's nothing impossible, impossible, with God”
6. Share it with others
7. Discuss your faith. . .frequently with your Manufacturer
Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe.”
Fear looks; faith jumps.
6. They were good in keeping secret 2:;9-
“And the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew”
• If the people had known that the wine they drank, made from simple plain water then no one would drink from it
7. Their disclosure 2;9
• They revealed it in due time
• Otherwise, no one would have known the secret of that wine
• They were the first to lift up Jesus
Mary the great the role model of mother’s- john 2:1-5
1. She was a relationship maintainer- john 2;1/ Mary was the one who kept the relationships
Jesus’ mother was there,
2. Mary was the one who saw the pain of others 2:3
She said they have no more wine.
Mary knows that Jesus cares about people..
? Jesus cares about our everyday needs, both big and small.
? If God cares about these little two-for-a-penny sparrows, then surely He cares about every detail in our lives.
? God is interested in everything. We have a BIG God that specializes in small things.
? My God lives and moves and reigns over everything.
? He’s so personal that He promises to live inside us if we just ask Him.
? He’s so big that He’s involved in every single detail of the ongoing process of life on this earth.
? He knows your name and He knows your need. This is the mighty God we serve.
3. she does not hold back the need 2;4 (Mary was not too shy)
Woman,[a] why do you involve me
4. Mary was the introducer of Jesus 2:;5
Do whatever he tells you
5. Mary was traveling with Jesus 2;12
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers
The 5 qualities of wine that made by Jesus
The wine that ran out and the wine that Jesus made
A. Its quantity
• The wine Jesus made at Cana was abundant
• The wine of the world is gone
• The joy and peace that Jesus brings is lasting
• Phili; 4:19- 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
• John 6: 8- 4 feeding the 5000
B. its quality
“2;9 Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
• While men give first good and then bad, But Jesus gives only good from beginning to end
C. Its Brand
• What Jesus gave was not a copy of the old wine
• Its Completely fresh new wine
• New heart, new birth, new heavens, new earth, new drink, new temple
D. its content
• plain water was the basic ingredient of Jesus' wine
• This water had no color, no quality, and no taste. But when Jesus commanded this water got all these three qualities
• Whomever Jesus touch, his life wont be in the same manner, they will experience transformation in their life
• 1 cori 5:17 says 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
E. Its price
• There is a price for the wine prepared by the wedding family at Cana
• Jesus' wine was the greatest, but absolutely free
Salvation is Gods free gift
Ephe 2:4-6 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Rom 5: 1-3 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Rev 7;10
10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
APPLICATION
FIVE KEYS TO YOUR MIRACLE
1.INVITATION
o If we want to experience a miracle, we must first invite Jesus into our lives.
o Jesus was invited to the wedding at Cana. If Jesus had not been invited to that wedding the miracle would not have taken place.
o We must invite Jesus into every area of our lives. We must seek His blessing and His guidance in every aspect of our lives.
2.INTERCESSION:
John 2:3,4
o The second step for a miracle is to intercede before the Lord, and to make our requests known to him. At the wedding in Cana when they ran out of wine, Mary the mother of Jesus made it known to Jesus.
o We must also take all our burdens to the Lord. Instead of rushing to our friends and relatives to share our needs , we must first take it to the Lord and cast our burdens upon Him.
3.INSTRUCTION:
John 2:5.
o The third step is to be taught obedience to the commandments of the Lord.
o At the wedding in Cana , Mary , the mother of Jesus told the servants to do whatever Jesus commanded them to do. It was obedience to the instructions of Jesus that enabled them to experience the miracle.
o We must be careful to obey the instructions that the Lord gives to us.We must live according to the word of God.
4.INSTRUMENTS:
John 2:6.
o The Lord uses instruments to perform His miracle.
o At the wedding in Cana the Lord used the water that was available to perform a miracle.
o Jesus used five loaves and two fishes that was available to feed the five thousand.
o The Lord can use whatever we have to perform miracles. He can use even ordinary vessels to reveal His power. We should allow the Lord to use whatever we have for His glory.
5.INSPIRATION:
John 2:7,8.
o Here Jesus intervened and performed a miracle by turning the water into wine and His disciples believed on Him.
o The miracle that Jesus performed inspired the disciples and caused them to develop a strong faith in the Lord.
o We must cause every miracle that the Lord performs to become an inspiration for us to have a greater and deeper faith in Him
Jesus changes our everyday realities.
We have a God Who is in the business of change and who does miracles
In Rev. 21:5 we read:
“Behold, I make all things new.”
There’s no limit to God's grace
If Jesus can turn water into wine…surely He can turn your sadness into joy, your fear into faith, and your death into life.”
o Sometimes unfair things may happen in our lives. do we try and handle them on our own. Or do we seek the help of God
o When we turn to God,we get unexpected miracle.
o Our God performs miracle.
o When we cannot find a solution, we need to turn to God who can display his power among us
o God can provide a way for us, when we cannot find the answer
o God turns ordinary into extraordinary
o God can do what we cannot do
o God can do miracles in our lives and turn our ordinary days into extraordinary days
Tell God that you believe in miracles. Tell Him that He is welcome to perform miracles on your behalf. Ask Him to use you to perform miracles on behalf of others. He will.
Have you made Jesus the Miracle Worker the Lord of your life? If not, just say, "Jesus, You're my choice." (Romans 10:13) That'll open the door to a parade of miracles in your life.
Do You Need A Miracle In Your Life Today?
When you speak words of blessing and encouragement, you are literally inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit to invade those things in your life that concern you the most
You are telling the enemy that you are Kingdom-minded and your focus is on a higher calling.
Are you using your words wisely? Are you using words that evoke hope and peace?
Are you setting an example for those around you who need to know and receive the miracle-working power of a Savior?
The Bible tells us that we still live in a day of miracles, and that those miracles are for you and me.
Are you sick in your body? We serve a healing God!
Are your finances lacking? We serve a God who is more than enough!
Is your heart broken or do you feel lost and alone?
We serve a God who heals the broken hearted and promises to be closer to you than a brother!
Don’t ever think that God has given up on you. He loved you so much that He gave His life for you. He rose from the dead not only to redeem us, but to give us a life filled with blessings that are overflowing.
He wants us to have a life filled with abundance, joy, peace and love. Jesus took your place on the Cross so that you could have an abundant life and the promise of an eternity praising His name.
