Water Into Wine

1 THE KING WAS SEATED IN A GARDEN, • AND ONE OF HIS COUNSELORS WAS SPEAKING OF THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD. • 'SHOW ME A SIGN, SAID THE KING, "AND I WILL BELIEVE. • “HERE ARE FOUR ACORNS, SAID THE COUNSELOR, • "WILL YOU, MAJESTY, PLANT THEM IN THE GROUND, • AND THEN STOOP DOWN FOR A MOMENT AND LOOK INTO THIS CLEAR POOL OF WATER" • THE KING DID SO, "NOW, SAID THE OTHER, 'LOOK UP. • THE KING LOOKED UP AND SAW FOUR OAK-TREES • WHERE HE HAD PLANTED THE ACORNS. • "WONDERFUL!" HE EXCLAIMED, 'THIS IS INDEED THE WORK OF GOD. • "HOW LONG WERE YOU LOOKING INTO THE WATER?" ASKED THE COUNSELOR. • "ONLY A SECOND, SAID THE KING. • "EIGHTY YEARS HAVE PASSED AS A SECOND, SAID THE COUNSELOR. • THE KING LOOKED AT HIS GARMENTS; • THEY WERE THREADBARE. HE LOOKED AT HIS REFLECTION IN THE WATER; • HE HAD BECOME AN OLD MAN. • 'THERE IS NO MIRACLE HERE, THEN, THE KING SAID ANGRILY. • "YES, SAID THE OTHER, "IT IS GOD'S WORK, • WHETHER HE DID IT IN ONE SECOND OR IN EIGHTY YEARS…. • THE AMAZING WORKS OF GOD ARE ALL MIRACLES • WHETHER THEY HAPPEN IN AN INSTANT OR A LIFE TIME • WHETHER WE ARE DUMBFOUNDED BY THEM OR HAVE AN EXPLANATION…. • GOD IS CONSTANTLY WORKING IN OUR LIVES • WHETHER WE NOTICE IT OR NOT • IN THIS LIFE WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER GOD • DOING AMAZING THINGS • SOME OF GOD’S WORK WILL STAND OUT AS MIRACULOUS • OTHER WORKS OF GOD WILL APPEAR ORDINARY • WE NEED TO NOTICE GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES • BOTH IN THE MIRACULOUS AND THE MUNDANE • WE NEED NOTICE GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES • SO THAT OUR FAITH WILL GROW AND STRENGTHEN • I NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE THINGS GOD DOES FOR ME EVERY DAY • WE NEED TO ALLOW GOD’S WORK IN OUR LIVES TO GROW OUR FAITH • MAYBE YOU HAVE MISSED SOMETHING GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU… • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE 1ST • OF SEVEN MIRACLES THAT ARE FOUND IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN • JOHN TELLS US WHY HE WROTE ABOUT THESE MIRACLES IN JOHN 20:30–31 THEREFORE MANY OTHER SIGNS JESUS ALSO PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; BUT THESE HAVE BEEN WRITTEN SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME. • AS WE LOOK AT THESE MIRACLES WE NEED TO KEEP THIS IN MIND • THEY ARE PUT HERE BY JOHN SO THAT WE MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST • AND THAT BELIEVING WE MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME • TURN TO JOHN 2:1 • IN CHAPTER 1 JOHN HAD ESTABLISHED THAT • JESUS CHRIST IS THE LAMB OF GOD • COME TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD • JOHN DESCRIBED 5 MEN BECOMING DISCIPLES OF JESUS • ANDREW, JOHN, PETER, PHILLIP AND NATHANAEL • NOW THESE 5 DISCIPLES WILL HAVE THEIR FAITH INCREASED • AS JESUS MANIFESTS HIS GLORY BY CHANGING WATER INTO WINE JOHN 2:1–5 ON THE THIRD DAY THERE WAS A WEDDING IN CANA OF GALILEE, AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE; AND BOTH JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE INVITED TO THE WEDDING. WHEN THE WINE RAN OUT, THE MOTHER OF JESUS SAID TO HIM, “THEY HAVE NO WINE.” AND JESUS SAID TO HER, “WOMAN, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH US? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.” HIS MOTHER SAID TO THE SERVANTS, “WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU, DO IT.” THE SETTING OF THE MIRACLE • FIRST, JOHN TELLS WHEN THIS MIRACLE HAPPENED • HE SAYS; ON THE THIRD DAY • THIS COULD MEAN THREE DAYS AFTER THE BAPTISM OF JESUS • BUT MORE LIKELY IT MEANS THREE DAYS AFTER • NATHANIEL BECAME A DISCIPLE • EITHER WAY THE DISCIPLES HAD ONLY BEEN DISCIPLES A FEW DAYS • AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHEN THE MIRACLE HAPPENED • THEY HAD NOT BEEN WITH CHRIST VERY LONG • SECOND, JOHN TELLS US WHERE THE MIRACLE HAPPENED • THERE WAS A WEDDING IN CANA OF GALILEE • JESUS DID NOT DO HIS FIRST MIRACLE IN JERUSALEM • HE DID IT IN AN OBSCURE CORNER OF THE COUNTRY • A LITTLE COUNTRY TOWN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE • OTHER MIRACLES WILL BE FOR THE MASSES • THIS FIRST MIRACLE HAD A VERY SPECIFIC AUDIENCE • THEN, JOHN TELLS US WHO WAS AT THE MIRACLE • AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE; AND BOTH JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE INVITED TO THE WEDDING. • THESE ARE THE KEY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MIRACLE • HIS MOTHER WHO WILL BRING THE PROBLEM TO HIM • JESUS WHO WILL PREFORM THE MIRACLE • AND HIS DISCIPLES THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE MIRACLE • OTHERS ARE THERE… BUT MOST IF NOT ALL OF THEM • WILL NOT EVEN BE AWARE THAT A MIRACLE HAS HAPPENED…. • WHEN WE LOOK AT ANY EVENT IN THE BIBLE • WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT THE AUTHOR IS FOCUSED ON • AS WE LOOK AT THESE MIRACLES IN THE BOOK OF JOHN • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SEE THEM THE WAY • JOHN WANTS US TO SEE THEM • AND NOT GET DISTRACTED BY THINGS JOHN IS NOT FOCUSING ON… • JOHN HAS JUST TOLD US THE WHEN, WHERE AND WHO OF THIS MIRACLE • NOW HE WILL TELL US THE WHY. THE NEED FOR THE MIRACLE • VIRTUALLY EVERY MIRACLE HAPPENS IN RESPONSE TO A NEED • MIRACULOUS HEALING COMES IN RESPONSE TO ILLNESS • MIRACULOUS SIGHT COMES IN RESPONSE TO BLINDNESS • MULTIPLYING FISHES AND LOAVES COMES IN RESPONSE TO HUNGER • IN THIS CASE WATER IS TURNED INTO WINE • BECAUSE THE WINE WAS RUNNING OUT • NOW OUR TRANSLATION SAYS • WHEN THE WINE RAN OUT, • BUT THE GREEK IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE WINE • WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RUNNING OUT • IT HAD NOT ACTUALLY RUN OUT YET. • NOW, ERIN AND I PHOTOGRAPHED WEDDINGS FOR 30+ YEARS • AND I HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED • LONG BEFORE THE WINE ACTUALLY RUNS OUT • YOU KNOW IT IS GOING TO RUN OUT • AND EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE WEDDING • KNOWS THE WINE IS GOING TO RUN OUT • AS A PHOTOGRAPHER I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WINE • BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED • SOMEONE WOULD COME UP TO ME AND WHISPER TO ME • “THEY ARE GONNA RUN OUTTA WINE”… • THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT HAPPENS HERE • THE MOTHER OF JESUS SAID TO HIM, “THEY HAVE NO WINE.” • THIS MAY MEAN THAT MARY WAS HELPING RUN THE WEDDING • THIS MAKES SENSE TO ME, IF SHE WAS HELPING OUT • SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE WINE WAS GONNA RUN OUT • BEFORE IT ACTUALLY RAN OUT • IN THE ANCIENT WORLD • WEDDINGS LASTED MANY DAYS • AND IT WAS THE DUTY OF THOSE HOLDING THE WEDDING • TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR GUESTS. • IT WOULD BE VERY EMBARRASSING FOR • BOTH FAMILIES FOR THE WINE TO RUN OUT • SO, MARY TAKES THIS PROBLEM TO HER SON • CONFIDENT THAT HE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT JESUS RESPONDS • AS WE GO THROUGH THE MIRACLES IN THE BOOK OF JOHN • WE WILL NOTICE HOW JESUS RESPONSES • TO THE NEED THAT LEADS TO EACH MIRACLE • MANY TIMES, HIS RESPONSE TO THE NEED • IS NOT WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT • SOME PEOPLE THINK MARY EXPECTED JESUS TO PREFORM A MIRACLE • OTHERS THINK SHE WANTED HIM TO RUN OUT AND GET SOME WINE • STILL OTHERS THINK SHE WANTED JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES TO LEAVE • CAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES DRINKING UP ALL THE WINE…. • IT IS RATHER SILLY OF US TO TRY TO GUESS WHAT MARY EXPECTED FROM JESUS • THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY, AND WHAT SHE EXPECTED IS NOT REALLY IMPORTANT • IN THIS CASE; JESUS SAID TO HER, “WOMAN, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH US? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.” • NOW THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE HARSH TO US • CALLING YOUR MOTHER, “WOMAN”, IS NOT VERY POLITE IN ENGLISH • BUT THIS IS REALLY A VERY RESPECTFULLY STATEMENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE. • AND THE PHRASE “WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH US” • WELL, THAT PHRASE CAN MEAN “THAT’S IS NOT MY PROBLEM” • BUT IT CAN ALSO MEAN, • “I WILL DEAL WITH THIS YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT” • I THINK THAT IS WHAT MARY UNDERSTANDS JESUS TO MEAN • SINCE THE NEXT THING SHE SAYS IS “WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU, DO IT.” • IT WOULD NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE FOR HER TO SAY THAT • IF HE JUST TOLD HER “THAT’S NOT MY PROBLEM” • SO, MARY HAS TOLD THE SERVANTS AT THE WEDDING • TO DO WHAT JESUS TELLS THEM TO DO • AND THE WAY SHE WORDS IT INDICATES • HE MIGHT TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING ODD • SHE SAYS “WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU, DO IT” • IMPLYING, EVEN IF HE TELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING STRANGE… DO IT. JOHN 2:6–8 NOW THERE WERE SIX STONE WATERPOTS SET THERE FOR THE JEWISH CUSTOM OF PURIFICATION, CONTAINING TWENTY OR THIRTY GALLONS EACH. JESUS SAID TO THEM, “FILL THE WATERPOTS WITH WATER.” SO THEY FILLED THEM UP TO THE BRIM. AND HE SAID TO THEM, “DRAW SOME OUT NOW AND TAKE IT TO THE HEADWAITER.” SO THEY TOOK IT TO HIM. THE MECHANISM OF THE MIRACLE • IN MANY OF THE MIRACLES FOUND IN OUR BIBLES • THERE ARE EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF THE MIRACLE • THE 5 FISH AND 2 LOAVES WERE NOT SPECIAL IN ANY WAY • THE DIRT USED TO MAKE MUD IN GIVING THE BLIND MAN SIGHT • WAS REGULAR EVERY DAY DIRT • THE WATER JESUS WALKED ON WAS NOT MIRACLE WATER IT WAS JUST WATER • IN THIS CASE; THERE WERE SIX STONE WATERPOTS • A LOT HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND PREACHED ABOUT THESE WATER POTS • WHAT THEY MIGHT MEAN, WHAT THEY MIGHT SYMBOLIZE • I AM NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT, CAUSE JOHN DOES NOT TALK ABOUT IT • IF JOHN DID NOT TELL US THAT THESE POTS SYMBOLIZE SOMETHING • THEN I THINK THEY PROBABLY DON’T SYMBOLIZE SOMETHING • THE POINT IS THERE WERE SOME REALLY BIG STONE JARS THERE • THAT IS ALL JOHN SAYS, SO THAT IS ALL I AM GONNA SAY, • ANYTHING ELSE WOULD JUST BE MAKIN STUFF UP • JOHN TELLS US ABOUT THESE BIG STONE JARS • BECAUSE JESUS IS GOING TO USE THEM IN THIS MIRACLE… THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MIRACLE • MANY OF THE MIRACLES IN OUR BIBLE • HAVE INSTRUCTIONS CONNECTED TO THEM • “GO AND WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM” • “HAVE THE PEOPLE SIT DOWN IN GROUPS OF ABOUT FIFTY” • “PICK UP YOUR MAT AND WALK” • IN THIS MIRACLE JESUS GIVES THE SERVANTS SOME VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS • FILL THE WATERPOTS WITH WATER.” • “DRAW SOME OUT NOW AND TAKE IT TO THE HEADWAITER.” • AND EACH TIME THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT HE INSTRUCTED… • IT IS AMAZING TO ME HOW GOD ALLOWS US TO BE PART OF HIS WORKS • CERTAINLY, JESUS DID NOT NEED HELP IN TURNING WATER INTO WINE • AND YET HE TAKES THE TIME TO INSTRUCT THESE SERVANTS TO FILL THE POTS • AND IS PATIENT AND ALLOWS THEM THE TIME IT TAKES TO GO TO A WELL • AND BRING 100+ GALLONS OF WATER TO FILL THESE JARS • HE EVEN HAS THE SERVANTS DRAW WATER FROM THE POTS • AND TAKE IT TO THE HEADWAITER JOHN 2:9–10 WHEN THE HEADWAITER TASTED THE WATER WHICH HAD BECOME WINE, AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM (BUT THE SERVANTS WHO HAD DRAWN THE WATER KNEW), THE HEADWAITER CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM, AND SAID TO HIM, “EVERY MAN SERVES THE GOOD WINE FIRST, AND WHEN THE PEOPLE HAVE DRUNK FREELY, THEN HE SERVES THE POORER WINE; BUT YOU HAVE KEPT THE GOOD WINE UNTIL NOW.” WHO KNEW AND WHO DID NOT • THIS FIRST MIRACLE OF JESUS IS REALLY VERY PRIVATE • IT TAKES PLACE IN A SMALL TOWN FAR FROM JERUSALEM • AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT AT THE MIRACLE • DO NOT EVEN KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED • THE TEXT STATES THAT THE HEADWAITER DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM • (BUT THE SERVANTS WHO HAD DRAWN THE WATER KNEW) • JESUS, OF COURSE NEW ABOUT THE MIRACLE • AND LATER WE WILL SEE THAT JESUS’ DISCIPLES KNEW ABOUT THE MIRACLE • BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE GUESTS KNEW • OR EVEN THAT THE BRIDE AND GROOM KNEW ABOUT • A MIRACLE HAPPENING AT THEIR WEDDING • FROM EXPERIENCE I CAN TELL YOU THAT LOTS OF THINGS • HAPPEN AT WEDDINGS THAT NO ONE KNOWS HAPPENED… HOW THE MIRACLE HAPPENED • IT IS NOT A BIG THING BUT I WANT US TO NOTICE SOMETHING • JOHN SAID; THE HEADWAITER TASTED THE WATER WHICH HAD BECOME WINE, • SO, AT THE POINT HE IS SERVED … IT IS WINE • BUT WHEN THE SERVANTS TOOK IT OUT OF THE STONE JARS IT WAS WATER • BUT THE SERVANTS WHO HAD DRAWN THE WATER KNEW • SEE, I ALWAYS ASSUMED JESUS TURNED ALL 100+ GALLONS OF WATER • IN THE HUGE STONE JARS INTO WINE • BUT IF WE READ IT CLOSELY IT SEEMS THE WATER IN THE JARS STAYED WATER….ONLY THE WATER • THAT WAS DRAWN OUTTA THE STONE JARS AND SERVED WAS TURNED TO WINE… • I DON’T THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT • WE DON’T NEED TO SPIRITUALIZE IT AND TRY TO MAKE IT MEAN SOMETHING • IT WAS JUST INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE THAT LITTLE DETAIL I NEVER SAW BEFORE… THE RESPONSE TO THE WINE • THE NEXT THING WE SEE IN THE TEXT • IS THE HEADWAITER’S RESPONSE TO THE WINE… • IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER • HE IS NOT RESPONDING TO A MIRACLE • HE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE WINE CAME FROM • HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW A MIRACLE HAS HAPPENED • THIS HEADWAITER OR LITERALLY “RULER OF THE FEAST ROOM” • CALLS OVER THE GROOM AND SAYS; • “EVERY MAN SERVES THE GOOD WINE FIRST, AND WHEN THE PEOPLE HAVE DRUNK FREELY, THEN HE SERVES THE POORER WINE; BUT YOU HAVE KEPT THE GOOD WINE UNTIL NOW.” • SOME PEOPLE TEACH THAT THIS IS A STATEMENT ABOUT • JESUS AND THE NEW COVENANT BEING BETTER THAN THE • OLD TESTAMENT AND THE MOSAIC COVENANT • THAT GOD HAD KEPT THE “GOOD WINE” UNTIL NOW • IT IS TRUE THAT THE NEW COVENANT IS BETTER THAN THE MOSAIC COVENANT • AND JESUS CERTAINLY IS THE BEST • BUT I THINK IT IS A REAL STRETCH TO SAY THESE THINGS • BASED ON WHAT THE HEADWAITER SAID ABOUT WINE • THAT HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE IT HAD COME FROM • I AM NOT SURE, BUT I THINK THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE STATEMENT • BY THE HEADWAITER, WAS THAT THE WINE WAS IN FACT…. GOOD WINE. • THAT IS ALL, I DON’T THINK IT HAS ANY DEEPER MEANING • JESUS TURNED WATER IN TO VERY GOOD WINE… • SO, IF THE POINT OF THE MIRACLE IS NOT THE STONE JARS • AND THE POINT OF THE MIRACLE IS NOT • THE GOOD WINE BEING SAVED UNTIL NOW • THEN WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE MIRACLE OF WATER BEING TURNED TO WINE? JOHN 2:11 THIS BEGINNING OF HIS SIGNS JESUS DID IN CANA OF GALILEE, AND MANIFESTED HIS GLORY, AND HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM. • THIS VERSE TELLS US SO MUCH ABOUT THIS MIRACLE • JOHN REFERS TO THIS MIRACLE AS A “SIGN” • THIS BEGINNING OF HIS SIGNS JESUS DID IN CANA OF GALILEE • THIS WORD SIGN MEANS SOMETHING THAT HAS • THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF EXHIBITING DIVINE POWER • A SIGN IS SOMETHING THAT POINTS US TO GOD • AND JOHN SAYS THAT BY DOING THIS MIRACLE, THIS SIGN • JESUS; “MANIFESTED HIS GLORY” • THAT MEANS HE MADE KNOWN, REVEALED, DISPLAYED • THAT HE IN FACT IS GOD, • BECAUSE GLORY IS ONLY DUE TO GOD • NO MAN CAN RIGHTFULLY CLAIM GLORY • SO, THE QUESTION IS HOW DOES TURNING WATER INTO WINE • MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD? • HOW IS TURNING WATER INTO WINE A SIGN THAT POINTS TO GOD? • I THINK WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER • IF WE UNDERSTOOD WHERE WINE COMES FROM • SEE, TO ME WINE COMES FROM THE STORE, YOU GO BUY IT • OR MAYBE WINE COMES FROM NAPA VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA • BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF JESUS DAY • THEY UNDERSTOOD, THEY KNEW. GOD TURNS WATER INTO WINE EVERY YEAR • GOD CAUSES THE RAIN TO FALL • THE SEED TO SPROUT, THE GRAPE VINE TO BEAR FRUIT • GOD BRINGS THE HARVEST, AND FILLS THE VATS WITH WINE • THESE CONCEPTS ARE ALL OVER OUR OLD TESTAMENT • GOD IS THE ONE THAT PROVIDES AND ONE OF THE THINGS • HE PROVIDES IS THE WINE • SO, TO THEM TURNING WATER INTO WINE IS SOMETHING GOD DOES • AND WHEN JESUS PREFORMS THIS MIRACLE, THIS SIGN • JOHN SAYS; HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM • I TRULY THINK THAT RIGHT HERE WE SEE THE POINT OF THIS MIRACLE • NOW, REMEMBER THESE 5 DISCIPLES • HAVE ONLY BEEN WITH JESUS A FEW DAYS • THIS IS THE FIRST MIRACLE, THE FIRST SIGN, THEY HAVE SEEN • AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THIS MIRACLE • JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE, SOMETHING GOD DOES • AND IN DOING THIS SIGN… HE MANIFESTED HIS GLORY • AND IN RESPONSE HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM… • DOES THIS MEAN THEY HAD NOT BELIEVED • IN HIM WHEN THEY FOLLOWED HIM?.... • NO, I THINK THEY HAD A LEVEL OF BELIEF WHEN THEY FOLLOWED HIM • I THINK THIS STATEMENT HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM • IS TALKING ABOUT GROWING FAITH • INCREASING FAITH, STRENGTHENING FAITH • I THINK THE POINT OF THIS MIRACLE IS THAT • GOD WORKED IN THE WORLD AND FAITH GREW… • JESUS DID SOMETHING IN THE LIVES OF HIS BELIEVERS • AND THEIR FAITH INCREASED. IF THE POINT OF THIS MIRACLE • IS THAT GOD WORKED IN THE WORLD AND FAITH INCREASED • WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME? • SO WHAT? • WHAT SHOULD THAT CHANGE ABOUT HOW I LIVE? • WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION • TO GOD WORKING IN THE WORLD… • KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS • NOT JUST MIRACLES BUT ANYTHING POINTING • TO GOD WORKING IN THE WORLD • AND WHEN WE SEE THESE SIGNS AND WONDERS • WHEN WE SEE GOD WORKING IN THE WORLD • IT SHOULD INCREASE OUR FAITH, GROW OUR FAITH • STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH • WHEN SOMEONE HAS STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION • AND GOD WORKS IN THEIR LIFE AND BRINGS THEM BACK FROM THAT PIT • WE SHOULD SEE THIS SIGN, THIS WONDER AND OUR FAITH SHOULD GROW • WHEN A FAMILY IS IN DIRE NEED, CAN’T PAY THE BILLS • AND GOD WORKS IN THEIR LIFE AND BRINGS THEM WHAT THEY NEED • WE NEED TO SEE THIS MIRACLE AND GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD • AND HAVE OUR FAITH STRENGTHENED • WHEN SOMEONE IS INJURED, OR ILL, AND THEY RECOVER… • WHETHER BY SURGERY, MEDICINE OR STRAIGHT UP MIRACLE • WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOD WORKING IN THEIR LIFE • AND WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY • AND BELIEVE, TRUST, HAVE FAITH IN HIM • I WANT YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND • IF WE DID THIS, IF WE PAID ATTENTION TO EVERY TIME • GOD WORKED IN OUR LIVES AND GAVE GOD THE GLORY • AND GREW OUR FAITH FROM SEEING HIS SIGNS AND WONDERS • THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW WE SAW THE WORLD • THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH LESS TIME WE WOULD HAVE • TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WORLD, • TO GOSSIP ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS • TO ENVY, LIE, CHEAT, HATE ON OTHERS • WE WOULD BE SO BUSY SEEING GOD’S HAND IN OUR LIVES • GIVE HIM THE GLORY AND GROWING IN OUR FAITH • WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE TIME TO GET IN ALL THE TROUBLE WE GET IN • WE NEED TO BE LOOKIN FOR GOD NOT LOOKIN FOR TROUBLE…. • JOHN PUT THE SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HIS GOSPEL • SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME. • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE TODAY WHO HAS NOT • BELIEVED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD • ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME • IN A MOMENT I AM GONNA PRAY A PRAYER.. 101