Encourage believers to experience joy through obedience to God, witnessing His miracles, and trusting in His abundant provision, as exemplified in the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
Good morning, church family. Today, we are diving into John chapter 2, a chapter that is brimming with joy. It's a joy that comes from obedience, from witnessing miracles, and from experiencing abundance.
As author Matthew Henry once said, "The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks."
So, let's open our Bibles to John 2:1-11:
[Read passage]
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, as we delve into Your word today, may we be open to the joy that comes from obedience, from witnessing Your miracles, and from Your abundant provision. Help us to be like those servants at the wedding in Cana, ready and willing to do whatever You tell us, because we trust that You are the God of miracles, the God of impossible. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Are y'all ready to dive into this message? Let's go!
The joy of obedience is a joy that is not based on our circumstances, but rather on our relationship with God and our willingness to submit to His will.
This joy is illustrated in the story of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle.
The servants obey: we see the obedience of the servants who, at the instruction of Mary, Jesus' mother, were told to "do whatever he tells you." These servants, without questioning or doubting, obeyed Jesus' instructions to fill the jars with water. They didn't know what Jesus was going to do. They didn't understand His plan. Yet, they obeyed. They trusted. And because of their obedience, they were part of a miracle. They were the first to witness water being turned into wine.
Often precedes understanding: We may not always understand God's plan or His ways, but we are called to obey nonetheless. And it is in this obedience that we find joy. Not a fleeting happiness that is dependent on our circumstances, but a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing that we are in the center of God's will.
A joy of discovery: As we obey God, we discover more about His character, His love, and His power. We see this in the reaction of the master of the banquet when he tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He was amazed and delighted, not knowing where the wine had come from. But the servants knew. Their obedience had led to a discovery of Jesus' miraculous power.
Brings joy through transformation: The water in this story was not just transformed into any wine, but the best wine. This speaks of the transformative power of God in our lives when we obey Him. Our ordinary, everyday lives can be transformed into something extraordinary, something beautiful, something valuable. And this transformation brings joy.
When we obey God we are transformed: Our lives take on a new quality, a new flavor. We become vessels of His love, His grace, His power. And this transformation is not just for our benefit, but also for the benefit of those around us. The wine in this story was not just for the servants who filled the jars, but for all the guests at the wedding. Similarly, our obedience to God has a ripple effect, touching the lives of those around us and bringing joy to them as well.
Not always immediate: Sometimes, it involves waiting, trusting, and persevering. But as we obey, we can be confident that God is at work, that He is in control, and that He will fulfill His purposes in His perfect timing.
The joy of miracles is not merely an emotional response to witnessing a supernatural event, but it is a deep, spiritual rejoicing that comes from recognizing God's power and love at work in our lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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