Learning from Jesus' Miracles

Our Theme for 2025 is “Live Like Jesus”

It comes out of a simple desire to follow Jesus - and to learn better what that means.

I have called this part of our study “The Renewed Life” because Matthew tells the story of Jesus in a way that highlights the difference that Jesus makes.

We are spending the entire year in the Gospel of Matthew.

Over the last several months we talked about divine healing, deliverance, forgiveness and being a disciple of Jesus.

We have talked about faith, repentance and having a personal relationship with God.

The last few weeks we have looked at parables of Jesus which describe the Kingdom of God as being powerful like a seed and valuable like treasure.

What about miracles, signs and wonders? - Isn’t that part of the renewed life?

Absolutely - signs and wonders demonstrate both the power of God and purpose to restore all things.

Historically, signs and wonders were used by prophets to validate their message from God. Moses parting the Red Sea served not only as a demonstration of God’s power but also as confirmation of his role as deliverer of the Israelites. Similarly, Jesus performed miracles as a way to authenticate His divine mission and teachings. He aimed to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual, showing that God’s active presence was among His people, guiding and caring for them.

Miracles, signs and wonders are not just God showing off.

They are showing us something specific about God.

Who God is.

How He operates.

And most importantly, How we know Him better.

In C.S. Lewis’ 'Mere Christianity', he argues that miracles performed by Christ are meant to attract attention to God’s loving nature, not just to display His power. Each miraculous act invites us to consider deeper questions about faith, purpose, and God’s sovereignty in our lives. Jesus’ purpose for performing signs and wonders extends beyond the immediate need; they beckon us to understand our need for salvation and the loving relationship God desires to have with each of us.

Miracles, signs and wonders invite us to consider that reality is greater than what we know and have experienced.

They stretch our courage, our confidence and our faith.

So when we read about Jesus doing miracles, the question is not just -

How can we do miracles like Jesus?

The real question is how do we become more like Jesus and participate in His reality?

Lets make our way through the remainder of Matthew chapter 14 and observe, not just what Jesus does, but what He invites us to do.

Jesus multiplies what you have.

I want to begin with a disclaimer about miracles, signs and wonders.

I don’t do miracles and neither do you.

We can’t do anything on our own.

It’s tough being a Charismatic Pastor. Not only do I preach, teach, counsel and do visitation - but I’m supposed to do miracles too! Everyone expects me to have more faith than they do.

I give up! I’m only human - a weak and fragile vessel filled with the Spirit of God.

God does miracles through all of us.

And in that sense, I’m no better than you are at doing miracles.

The thing that qualifies you is not who YOU are - its not your holiness or your spiritual power -

It’s your willingness availability to let God use you.

With that in mind, let’s begin...

Begin with what you have.

Matthew 14:13–17 ESV

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”

When it comes to the miraculous, one of the keys to praying in faith is to focus on what you DO have instead of what you DON’T have.

I don’t have enough money to do what I think God wants me to do.

I don’t have the right experience or the right credentials - somebody else would be better.

I don’t have the time or the energy -

maybe I just can’t see myself actually doing whatever it is you are asking of me.

It comes back to one thing - who is asking?

Is it God? Or just other people’s expectation?

If it’s God- then its all up to him.

He will provide for whatever he calls you to do or it won’t get done.

He will give you the right connections and the right opportunities.

You might be surprised to find out that God chose you because you were the only one who packed a lunch!

You may not have the time or the bandwidth right now for something new, but God might be setting you up now for something He wants to do later.

If you could do it on your own, what glory would that bring to God?

God wants to use me and you precisely because we can’t - until He does it.

Invoke God’s blessing.

Matthew 14:18–21 ESV

18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Why did Jesus pray before breaking the loaves?

Well, of course, we always pray before a meal!

Sure, but I think there is more here than just a blessing on the food.

The Bible doesn’t actually say that He blessed the food - it says that he looked up to heaven and blessed...

If you have attended one of our Passover Seders, please tell me, how does every prayer begin?

“Blessed are you Lord God, King of the Universe who gives us...”

I don’t know how old that prayer is, but it is reasonable to think that Jesus was probably praying something like it.

He blessed God and God blessed and multiplied the food.

Why is that important?

When we pray for a miracle, we want people to know where it comes from.

In fact, I like the instructions that are given in our Elijah House Prayer Ministry.

Whenever possible, pray with people on the spot so they are unmistaken as to where the answer came from.

We want to point people to God, not to ourselves, so that next time they need something, they will know where to go.

Jesus did that with his disciples.

John 16:26–27 ESV

26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

When I was serving at the Telford Church, for a while we had healing rooms where people could come and receive prayer. They were modeled after the ministry of John G. Lake who had an amazing healing ministry over the turn of the last century.

One of the things that we were taught in that model was that the goal was not to see everyone get healed - but that everyone would go away having encountered God. Knowing that they are loved by God and that God is with them. Then whether they live and are healed or even if they die - they are better prepared for their ultimate destiny.

What we have, we give, and God multiplies it.

Get out of your comfort zone.

The feeding of the multitude was one of Jesus’ great miracles.

For many people in that time, that was the one they would remember.

Because they were not just observers, they were participants.

Everyone got to eat some of the loaves and fishes.

In fact, many of them got to experience the miracle of breaking and distributing them - multiplying them right in their hands.

Have you ever seen a miracle? Have you ever participated in one?

I remember the first miracle that I witnessed was as a pre-teen at a meeting up at Blue Mountain Christian Retreat. I came back from the children’s program and altar ministry was still happening. My parents were praying for someone’s ears to be opened. I remember that my mother held up her watch to this person’s ear and they could hear to gentle ticking of the watch. Something they could not do before.

DO you know what impressed me? Not just that God could do a miracle, but that he does it through my parents. I know these people!

Randy Clark likes to say, “If God can use little old me… He can use you too!”

1 Corinthians 1:27–29 CEV

27 But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. 28 What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. 29 God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him.

So if you think you are unqualified to pray for miracles - that might just qualify you.

That way He gets the glory!

Your confidence in public comes from your prayers in private.

Matthew 14:22–23 ESV

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Jesus sends the disciples away in a boat while he gives the benediction.

Then instead of following them, he goes deeper into the wilderness to get alone and pray.

Have you ever noticed that ministering to people can take a lot out of you?

It may surprise you, but I often take a nap on Sunday afternoon.

Except not today, we have a picnic!

It can feel like a real rush to minister under the anointing of the Spirit, but afterward -you are really tired!

You may feel like that sometimes just listening to and praying for people - like they are drawing their strength from you - and you are losing it!

You need to make time to get replenished.

In 1 Kings 19 we read about Elijah fleeing from Jezebel after confronting the prophets of baal.

He was burned out -before God could talk to him - he just needed to rest and eat.

1 Kings 19:5 NLT

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”

If anyone wants to be used by God, my first piece of advice is to learn to rest in God.

I have seen to many people who after making a great start, suddenly crash and burn.

If you are pouring yourself out, you need to also have times of pouring in.

Jesus took time to get alone with the Father, why would any of us not do the same?

Fear takes away our courage.

Matthew 14:24–27 ESV

24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Take heart! - the expression means to take courage.

Or you could say, find your courage before it slips away.

Here are the disciples coming off of the same incredible experience.

Rowing a boat across the lake - something that they are very used to doing.

Except that the storm is getting really bad and it’s getting really late.

They are both mentally and physically exhausted and the weather is making it even more difficult.

When you are beginning to think that you might die and you see a figure coming toward you over the water - what would you think?

“We must have crossed over - and I don’t mean the lake!”

Fear has that effect on people.

Initially, fear is supposed to increase alertness - the fight or flight response.

But when fear is sustained over a longer period of time, it has the opposite effect.

We find it hard to think clearly.

We become indecisive and feel trapped.

We may even lose hope and give in to despair.

Fear robs us of our strength and paralyses us.

That’s when Jesus says, take heart!

Remember me? = Remember who I am?

Remember what happens when you let me be who I am in you?

Remember how it goes when I take control and do what only I can do?

Remember your courage, it’s not in you, it’s in me.

You can be confident when you are being who God created you to me.

And when you are doing what God calls you to do - it’s all about Him.

Fear - the wrong kind of fear - takes away our courage...

But steps of faith overcome our doubts.

Matthew 14:28–33 ESV

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Have you ever wondered why Peter would say such a thing?

Jesus if it’s really you -make me walk on water too!

That took so me real chutzpah!

But what did they just learn for the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus doesn’t just do miracles - he invites us to participate in doing them.

After all, Jesus didn’t break all those loaves and fishes by himself.

The miracle was multiplied through the distribution.

Everyone got to take part in it.

Didn’t Jesus say...

Matthew 14:16 CEV

16 Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?”

Who is going to feed them - you are going to feed them!

You are going to take part in a miracle.

You don’t have to figure out how to make it happen - you just do what you know to do and let God do the rest.

You have to take steps.

For Peter is was stepping out of the boat.

For the boy with the lunch it was stepping up and giving what you have.

For all of the disciples it was stepping out in faith by bringing twelve empty baskets to be filled from one.

Every miracle begins with a single step.

Sometimes you are just putting one foot in front of another and you don’t even see the miracle until you look back and say, “how did I get here?”

Peter also stumbled and Jesus caught him - miracle number two!

Doubts will do that.

When God is doing a miracle in you life, its natural to think - this is too good to be true.

Of course it is - that’s what makes it a miracle.

But IS it really true? - if it is, then don’t question it.

God can do anything - even the impossible! - especially the impossible!

If you are struggling with doubts - I would encourage you to go back and remember all the amazing things God has already done.

And then take the next step...

Do not keep it to yourself.

We started by saying that God multiplies whatever you have as a starting point - I want to also say that when God does a miracle, He wants to multiply that too.

Whatever God did for you, He can do for someone else.

And whatever God did for someone else, He can do for you!.

Have you ever listened to someone else receiving a prophetic word from God and thought - God I’ll take that too!

You can do that with miracles too.

Miracles, signs and wonders lead to more miracles signs and wonders.

Because faith grows and increases as we share our experiences and observe those of others.

Your story becomes your starting point.

Matthew 14:34–36 ESV

34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Jesus and his disciples land in Gennesaret, which is right net to Capernaum. Capernaum is where Jairus came to Jesus with the request to heal his daughter and it was right after that when the woman with the issue of blood touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment.

Her story apparently made an impact on that community because that is what people are expecting.

Like her, they just want to touch the fringe of his garment.

Why the fringe of His garment - that’s the story they heard and that is how they expect miracles to happen.

Devout Jewish men wore prayer shawls with four tassels on them - she touched one of them and was healed.

Doe that mean that we create a theology of healing around touching prayer tassels?

No, it means that we can connect the dots between the crowds expectation for healing an this woman’s story.

The people’s expectation was based on the woman’s story.

The miracle was multiplied.

What about your story?

That’s a good starting point.

What has Jesus done for you?

What has Jesus done through you?

What have you seen Jesus do and you say - hey, me too!

All we need to start with is a good reason to take a step toward Jesus.

And then see how God blesses it.

Questions for reflection:

When it comes to miracles, signs and wonders, is that something that only certain special people can do? Or is it something that God can do through anyone He chooses? What if He chose you?

What do you have that God can use? Can He use your prayers? Can He use your hands? Can He use your ears to listen and your mouth to speak? When He does, can He also use your story?

What miracle are you believing God for today? What is the impossible task that you have before you? What is the storm that you are trying to navigate? What step can you take today to walk by faith?