Praying for a Miracle

Prayers for Jen

Many of you have been praying with me over my wife…2 weeks ago she nearly collapsed at work due to a dramatic drop in oxygen…we continue to see God heal her body day by day…

When we got the ER I tried to explain to the doctor that sometimes when I walk in the room it takes Jennifer’s breath away…she has trouble catching her breath!!

If she gets a little swimmy watching me preach, we brought the oxygen with us today!

All the men that went to the marriage retreat this weekend know what I’m talking about!!

Parable of the Fig Tree (The Manure Parable)

Luke 13:6–9 “And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ””

James 5:7–8 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

There comes certain Times in your Life when a casual, Once-on-Sunday Prayer Life will NOT due!

You might casually pray about a job promotion, or maybe that you land that FRONT PARKING SPACE at Target!!!

But how many know there will come a point in your life that you NEED A MIRACLE?

Several weeks ago Jennifer and I had dinner with a couple in our church, Randy & Raye…Randy had shared with me several in the Fall of last year that the doctors had been running tests and the results were not good…they were in need of a miracle. We immediately prayed, brought the elders together…and trusted the power of God. But at out dinner that night Randy said something that stuck with me. He said, “The Lord has done too many miracles in my life already for me not to trust him now. So, no matter what happens with this diagnosis, I’m going to keep praying and put my faith in Jesus.”

We live in an instant gratification culture…we don’t like when things take time.

Meme: Checking out my progress after going to the gym one time.

For as much as we like to shout about miracles, signs, wonders, and breakthroughs…the reality is that much of following Jesus can be frustrating and disheartening because he doesn’t seems to work on our timeline!!

The same Bible that says, 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.”

— Also says… —

Isaiah 40:31 “but those who wait (say wait!) in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 64:4 The Lord “acts on behalf of the one who waits (say wait!) for him.”

Psalm 37:7 “Be silent before the Lord and wait (say wait!) expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait (say wait!) for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 37:9 “For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who wait (say wait!) on the Lord will inherit the land.”

(If you’re like me) We are more like the owner of the vineyard in this parable, than we are the gardener…(CHOP IT DOWN!!) [Axe Illustration]

We get a word from God…we have a “Holy Ghost” move in a service…a time at the altar…

All of the sudden we think, all I have to do now is just see the blessings of the lord fall down from heaven!

We wait…we pray…but nothing happens.

So we wait and pray some more…and things just get harder.

Finally, we get tired of waiting and just decide to take matters in my own hands!

Principle: The answer to your prayers is most often not an instant answer…it’s an invitation into the process that leads to the promise.

4 Reasons why we don’t like waiting:

(write these down…)

We don’t like God’s timing.

We don’t like God’s answer.

Some things we already know what God has said…we just don’t want to listen!!!

Too many times we are unwilling to UNLEARN some things so that we can begin the NEW THINGS that will make God’s promise possible.

The noise of our life is too loud to hear God whisper to our heart.

We pray from a place of anxiousness and impatience, rather than from a place of confident rest.

i.e. prodigal son, “give me what is mine

God’s working of a miracle is less about the miracle itself and more about what he is doing in you! …that takes TIME!!!

Giving Anna (13yrs the keys to my Truck!

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

The Persistent Woman

(MSG)

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Chapter 18)

18 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’

4–5  “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’ ”

6–8  Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

When you’re in need of a Miracle:

Turn up the intensity of your prayers.

Dig around the promises of God over your life.

Resist the temptation to cut down God’s promises with the words of your mouth.

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Two things I want you to remember here…

What we confess with our mouth will either pull us towards God or away from his presence.

The people and voice you let into your life are wither watering your faith or poisoning your promise!

Sometimes you feel like giving up on your prayers but they are working!!

Remember the trial is just fertilizer for your prayers.

Josh’s testimony after years of addiction:

Me and my brothers grew up in church…slept on the pews…wrote notes on the tithe envelopes…Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Revival service (some of ya’ll don’t know about that!!)…. So you can imagine what a shock it was to our family when my brother fell into a spiral of addiction…we prayed and prayed and prayed, but it seemed like the trials just got harder and harder…felt hopeless.

But God was using those trials to prepare my brother and all of us for his miracle. Josh sent me this text just a couple weeks ago coming up on a year of sobriety… “David, this week I shared my testimony at one of our meetings. When it came my turn to share and they asked how you’d do it I was able to say “one day at a time”. I was waiting to say that! I told them we serve a God of restoration and how grateful I am for the group and the support of my family. Love you! So thankful for forgiveness and Gods mercy.

Trust God to rain down his presence on your life.

James 5:7–8 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

(Fig Tree) It’s most likely that the fig tree planted in our parable was positions on the slope of a hill…when the rains came it got just enough water to stay alive, but not enough to produce fruit. The gardener knew there wasn't anything wrong with the tree, just something wrong with the setup. So he started digging…he dug, and he dug, and he dig, until the tree was surrounded by a large trench that was ready to receive the rain…then the rain could soak deep down into the ground nourishing the roots and creating a fruitful tree!

That’s what your prayers are doing. They are digging a well in your life…AND GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SEND THE RAIN

Dig Around It in PRAYER

I believe God is calling us back to the place of prayer (come to the altar and “dig” around the promises of God…the place where the Spirit “hovers/broods” over the formation of our lives for his Glory!

Here’s the point: Just Keep Digging!

[Call the church to the altar]