Where Miracles Begin
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Miracles Start with...
Miracles Start with...
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”
2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”
mark 8:22-26
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Change! Miracles Begin with Change!
The Rich Young Ruler couldn’t change -Both he & Jesus were sad about it.
Whatever I’m not changing, I’m choosing! (Laurie Buchanan)
If we can’t make the change, we can’t have the miracle
Whatever I’m not changing, I’m choosing!
Even the miracle of being born-again cannot happen without change
Hindrances to Change
Hindrances to Change
1) Priorities
1) Priorities
When our priorities are out of order & it messes everything up.
Most people want comfort and security more than they want God’s will
God’s will is ALWAYS going to take us into “uncomfortable” “unsafe” places because we have never even seen or thought of the things that God has prepared for us () and which can only have through a life of faith (2 Cor 5:7)
When we prioritize God’s will above our comfort and security, we will change!
We cannot afford to bow the knee to fear!
Fear is Faith in Reverse
The giants in the land are not the problem, our ungodly-small perception of who we are is the problem ()
***The grasshopper mindset***
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2) Vision
2) Vision
We don’t have a vision of how we are meant to change
18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Jesus is the vision & the destination!
Jesus is the Alpha (starting line) & the Omega (the finish line)
18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We are meant to be just like Jesus in health, prosperity, joy, power, anointing, grace, truth, mercy, meekness, etc.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
3) Consistency
3) Consistency
5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
Consistency isn’t flashy and doesn’t get much recognition
It is not the show muscle of Christianity.
“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.”
― E. James Rohn
Image of Dory from Finding Nemo - Just keep swimming!
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Abraham’s life story is found in the Bible’s “Hall of Faith” () because he chose change!
When God speaks, do not hesitate to move immediately and then consistently - your miracle starts with change!
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
If you were moving to another country, but could only pack one carry-on sized bag, what would you pack?
Is change or consistency more difficult for you to embrace? After getting some insights from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, please share why change or consistency can be difficult for you to embrace.
Please Read and share how this passage speaks to you about the importance of growing roots & how you can personally help yourself to grow deep roots in God and The Ark.
What change do you know God is calling you to in order to step into your miracle destiny? Take some time to pray with your Connect Group for the grace and willingness to change!