Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.

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.