Making Room for the Miracle

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that miracles actually happen?

The year was 1980… and the stakes were high. The Soviet Union team was the four-time defending gold medalist… they were highly favored to win again.

The United States had formed a team made up of amateur players with only 4 team members with minimal minor-league experience. The US had the youngest team in the tournament and in US national team history.

These guys learned a few valuable lessons on the way to victory.

When coach Herb Brooks was selecting the team he said “If you give 99 percent, you will make my job very easy.” He wanted all they had to give.

In another teachable moment, he expressed that the name on the front of their jersey, USA, was more important than their name on the back.

He also said, “Win, lose, or tie, you’re going to play like champions!”

But perhaps one of the quotes that hits hardest was this: “Risk something or forever sit with your dreams.”

The team worked hard. Before the team ever took to the ice in that final bout, they had played it over and over and over again in practice.

They did the work needed to make the miracle happen. And the favored team to win… went home without the gold medal as the United States upset the Soviet Union team 4-3.

The clip we watched captured one of the greatest moments in sports history… a moment that will not soon be forgotten. The announcer ended the game by asking the question, “Do you believe in miracles?” They US team had just done what was thought to be impossible… which made the win miraculous in the eyes of many.

They came. They gave all they had to give. They overcame the opposition.

Sounds like a great formula for making miracles happen does it not?

They showed up. They didn’t back down. They left everything they had in that arena. And they faced the opposition head on.

This formula may work well within athletic contests… but it falls short when it comes what is needed for supernatural miracles to take place.

As we begin this morning, I want to clarify what kind of miracles we are talking about today before we start talking about how we make room for such miracles to happen.

The miracles we are talking about today are not of this world, but can ONLY happen through the One who overcame this world.

Defined, a miracles are historical events or phenomena which appear to violate natural laws but reveal God to the eye of faith at the same time.

For instance, when Moses stood on the bank of the sea with Pharaoh’s army coming to destroy the people, the sea parted by the hand of God so the people could move forward on dry ground. Once they were through, the sea crushed the pursuing army. Miracle. This was something only GOD could do.

Joshua and the people following him were commanded of God to cross the Jordan and to take possession of the promised land.

“Be strong and courageous” were the words from God to Joshua as he prepared to lead the people into the promise ahead… but a MIRACLE was needed in order for the people to take possession of the promise.

Opposition was waiting for them. Just the idea of crossing the Jordan river at that time in history was enough to cause a person to think twice about moving forward.

In this moment… the belief in miracles… was put to the test. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

Miracles DO happen. God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine according to what? HIS POWER that is at work within us!

And right there is the difference between a “miracle” of beating the odds as we saw in the movie clip, and a miracle of supernatural proportions!

Man-made “miracles” can be amazing true enough. BUT GOD EMPOWERED MIRACLES take us beyond ANYTHING any man could ever do.

The key is God. The miracles we are looking for and believing for have NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE CAN DO… BUT HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HE CAN DO… AND WITH WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE!

And with this in mind, there is something about the “Miracle on Ice” story that we need to pay attention to and the focus, as this might surprise you, is NOT on the final 45 seconds of the championship contest… the focus is on the days, the weeks, the months spent in preparation for that 45 second moment.

The hockey game wasn’t won in a moment… but in a season of preparation, discipline, and dedication. They worked until their bones hurt in order to capitalize on the opportunity to win the gold medal.

Today, we are going to talk about Making room for the Miracle. We are going to talk about the days and moments that are so important regarding the miracles that God has ahead. How many truly believe… that the best is yet to come? Do we understand that this phrase indicates the importance of the journey we have with God?

How many understand today that we will never “arrive” until we stand on the other side of eternity? As Christians, we are ALWAYS going from where we are now into the new tings to come. There is never a place of “arrival, never a place where we have seen it all, have done it all, or know it all. To follow God is to follow Him who is always - in all times and places - on the MOVE.

SINCE God is on the move… we need to be ready… ready to move with God! And God tends to move in ways that might be described as… miraculous!

So I ask again… do you believe in miracles? If so… HOW are you preparing for the miracles God has in store?

While we may not know the details of what is to come… we know the nature by which they will come - THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD ALMIGHTY!

Therefore… we need to make ourselves ready… FOR A MOVE OF HIS POWER

Not a move of natural power or strength… but a move of His supernatural ability to overcome THE IMPOSSIBLE!

Joshua was ready to lead. The people were ready to follow. The time was drawing near when they would cross the Jordan river.

They camped out on the banks of the river and after three days, the officers began to give the people instruction.

Joshua 3:2–4 NIV

2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

The Ark of the Covenant would lead the way. The people were to follow. The ark was being carried by the Levitical priests… Worship would lead the way.

But it’s the next verse where I want us to give special attention. Joshua gives instruction to the people as well and I want us to look at what he says.

Joshua 3:5 NIV

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

You need to understand that the crossing of the river in this moment would require a miracle in and of itself because… it is a river. No bridge, no easy way across. In fact, verse 15 tells us the river was at its flood stage which means what? It is full, it is moving quickly, it is flooded with debris, and it is VERY dangerous to cross!

In light of the challenge ahead, Joshua says to do what? To consecrate… to make ready. But what does that mean exactly?

Miracles are part of God’s job description… not yours. You cannot “make” or “manufacture” a miraculous moment!

But… because God the Father loves us… He loves to give His children good gifts.. He loves to open doors we cannot open or move mountains we cannot move.

We are not responsible for making the miracle happen, BUT… we need to make space for the miracle to happen. We need to be ready.

We need to clear room for God to do what only God can do. That’s what consecration is all about.

What is Consecration?

Consecration is the act of setting apart, or dedicating, something or someone for God’s use. It is an intentional decision, a made up mind to follow God.

This means to separate from anything unholy or impure and to be set apart for the purposes of God.

The act of consecration points to the principle that God will not act powerfully on behalf of His people if they are not inwardly clean or spiritually prepared and working in cooperation with His purposes.

We cannot expect “signs and wonders” if our hearts are full of sin and impurities!

Joshua calls for the people to make their hearts ready, make their lives ready for what God has ahead. This was a call to get things in order… a call to make sure they were aligned with the heart of God.

In the moment before the battle, they were told to get ready.

In these kind of moments, we need to make sure we are doing the same. before the battle… before any battle, we need to take a moment to breathe so we can gain the perspective that will only come… when we pause.

What happens on the battlefield is important - sometimes the battle is won on the battlefield. But some of what will happen on the battlefield is determined by what we do before we get there.

If those young hockey players would have shown up on the ice without spending the needed moments in practice, the Soviet team would have walked all over them.

Not only did they train physically, they also trained mentally for the challenge ahead. Their bodies were ready, but more importantly, their minds, their hearts were ready.

God had promised the Israelites they would be given the land they were about to enter. God was fighting this battle for them! But before they crossed the Jordan, they had to choose to remain close in their walk with God.

Church, in most cases, the fight is won or lost before we ever get to it. The key behind the outcome is largely based on whether we make space for God BEFORE the battle begins.

I do not believe there is a single person in this place today that does not want what God wants. However, I am concerned that our desire for what God wants does not move us to make ready for what God wants.

Our lives are full… too full of… everything. In the last decade, technological changes have allowed us to obtain instant gratification in just about anything would could possibly want.

The internet has given us access to information, games, news, shows, music, media, videos, movies, articles, books, shopping, maps, directions, pictures and so forth. If we want to talk to someone we call and expect an answer. We send texts and anticipate a response in seconds. When we place an order we expect it in 48 hours. We get what we want, when we want it, and our impatience begins to show up if we don’t have it immediately.

Our schedules are full of work, to do lists, sports, hobbies, taking care of the house, taking care of our selves, taking care of business, making sure there is more money than month, making sure the kids get their homework done, attending community events, and we could keep going.

And with all of that going on… we wonder why we do not see God move in our lives like we desire for Him to move! Church… WE HAVE TO MAKE ROOM IN OUR LIVES FOR GOD TO MOVE.

I am GLAD you are here today! You made the effort to be here! I am glad you set this time aside to meet together at church. But our pursuit of God must go much deeper than spending an hour or two with Him on Sundays.

Consecration is not about effort… it’s about attention. It’s about making space… dedicating space in your life for God.

Joshua’s call for consecration to the people was all about making space for God that day so that they could see God move tomorrow.

When it comes to consecration, we need to take things like instant gratification and demanding schedules and set them aside. Consecration is done BEFORE the battle and is almost always a season of… wait for it… just a little longer… waiting.

WE HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO WAIT ON GOD. Before we move into the land of blessing, before we move into the new normal God has promised… there must be moments for watching, looking, and seeking. Remember, this is NOT about what we can do… it’s all about what He can do.

The people of God camped and waited 3 days before they crossed. That’s three days of sitting, three days of contemplating, three days of sitting in the presence of the impossible task ahead.

But Joshua’s instruction to the people WAS NOT to focus on the river… it was to focus on the GOD WHO WOULD GET THEM ACROSS that river! God was going to do amazing things among them!

And I believe… God is going to do amazing things among us! He is going to do amazing things in and through those who intentionally choose to make space for His move to take place!

Coming into a new normal God has for you will sometimes mean taking a good an long look at what is ahead.

Faith is not merely the denial of the upcoming difficulties or a way for believers to bury their heads in the sand to escape reality… Faith is being honest about what lies before us.

Our words of faith are shaped NOT by the challenges ahead, but in the might, strength, and power of the God we are waiting on!

God IS moving and He will move according to His time and will. Our faith moves us beyond the busyness and gratifications of this world and into the frequency, if you will, that God is speaking.

Faith hears differently. Faith sees differently. Faith speaks differently. And for the followers of Jesus, that makes ALL the difference in the world.

God’s presence is preparing to lead us into a new normal… into the promises of God! But we must be spiritually positioned in such a way as to hear from Him in order that we might follow Him. Ask yourself an honest question this morning… how much space exists in your life for God?

I’m asking daily… how much space… how much time… how much do you give Him? Especially in the face of new possibilities ahead… you are hoping for a powerful move of God… is there space enough for God to move in your life? Are you set apart for Him?

What Consecration Does

There are two things I want to look at that consecrations does in our lives regarding making room for miracles.

Before we get there, I want to be clear on something when talking about the miracles of God. I pray we never approach the miracles of God with selfish ambition. I pray that our desire is to see His miracles poured out not for our convenience, but for His glory.

Setting ourselves apart for His service means surrendering our lives to Him. The move that the people were preparing to make would certainly benefit the people, but it would glorify God. Our move into a new normal will almost always come with God’s blessing, but it will come for the sake of God’s kingdom.

And again, that is why consecration is so important… it helps us keep aligned with what the coming miracles are all about.

Number one, Consecration helps to sharpen our spiritual vision.

How important is having sharp, clear vision?

Well, in the days after Covid, I can tell you my physical vision is not what it used to be. I began noticing issues while I was in the hospital and… I continue to struggle in reading print I could easily read before I got sick.

It’s frustrating. It reminds me of my limitations. I often need more light, more distance, to see words or details. But… the problem is correctable. I have chosen not to get the help I need with my eyes.

Spiritually, it is important that our vision is clear and without obstruction. When we stop, pause, and make space for God in our lives, it gives God the opportunity to… correct our vision, to un-muddy our focus. It gives Him the opportunity to make sure we are seeing straight.

Consider this: consecration is not so much for God as it is for us. Think about it. The Israelites had never been this way before! They were entering into a new land. Consecration marks the in-between time and prepares us to move from where we’ve been to where we need to go.

In practical terms, consecration is much like the GPS in our cars. It gives God the time and space needed to guide us with clear vision into the new normal that is coming ahead.

Secondly, Consecration helps us to know when the moment has arrived.

The people had prepared. The instructions had been given and it was now time to cross the river. The priests knew what to do. The people knew what to do. And now, God would tell Joshua what to do.

Joshua 3:7–8 NIV

7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ”

When the time had come… they were to stand in faith. The river represented the impossible. The ark represented God. What would happen when the God of the impossible made contact with the impossible challenge ahead?

Joshua 3:14–17 NIV

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

This was a work that only God could do and that was the point! This one step… this choice to stand in the river literally opened a door for new beginnings!

They had taken steps of faith, and there was nothing left for them to do. Whatever happened once their feet hit the water’s edge WAS UP TO GOD. The moment had arrived. The wait had come to an end. They moved when God said move and the miracle was truly amazing!

Can you stop for a moment and… stand? Is your faith strong enough to give you the ability to stand? Can you come to the understanding this morning that your deliverance will not come by way of what you can do… but can only come through what God can do?

THIS IS YOUR LIFE. BUT THIS IS GOD’S MOMENT. God wants to move in you. Now is the time to STOP trying to make something happen and to trust in the One who can do ALL THINGS!

Closing

The miracle comes not for the strongest, the fastest, or those with the most willpower; the miracle comes to those who stop, stand still, and wait. It comes to those who are not looking to themselves to make it happen, it comes to those who trust in the God of the impossible.

How much space… how much time… how much of your life have you truly given to God? Are you willing to hear from God and to operate on His terms… or only when it fits in with your busy schedule? Are you willing to wait on the Lord for His timing or will you move only when you gain instant gratification?

Do you desire to see miracles in your life? If so… are you prepared to make room for the miracles of God in your life?

Maybe the road ahead isn’t blocked by a river at flood stage… maybe it’s your life that is flooded to the brink of disaster. Maybe it is full, bank to bank, moving at a pace that is exhausting and… dangerous.

Perhaps today the best thing we can do in response to this Word comes from another Word found in Psalms 46:10

Psalm 46:10 NIV

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still… and know. Allow the Spirit of God to help silence the noise that might be causing you to struggle to hear from Him.

Consecrate yourself before the Lord. Call upon His name. Ask Him to remove from you any impurities and get ready… FOR THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

PRAYER - help us Lord to consecrate ourselves for Your service and for Your plan.