FAITH FOR MIRACLES SERIES: 1. POWER OF HIS WORDS

FAITH FOR MIRACLES SERIES - 


1. POWER OF HIS WORDS

• Miracles happen when we Believe in every word of the Bible.

Do we believe every word in the Bible is the inspired Word of God? Or do we pick and choose only what we like to believe or what other people want us to believe? In order for us to have a radical life transformation, we need to believe in every word of God. We need to have a deep conviction that what is written in the Bible is for every believer and it is applicable for today. It is not a historical book to stimulate our minds and emotions. God has given us His words so that we will live according to His plan, guideline and purpose.


Scripture references:


2 Timothy 3:16-17


All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.


John 14:11-14


Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.


Mark 16:15-18


He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 


Acts 5:12-16


The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.  Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. 

BIG GOD FOR BIG PROBLEMS - MOSES' STORY

BIG GOD FOR BIG PROBLEMS - MOSES' STORY 

The Israelites wanted to eat meat in the desert and Moses prayed to God to provide for the people. God told Moses that His arm is not too short to help His people. God wants to remind us today that His arm is not too short to help us in every situation.

Numbers 11:21-23 21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” "The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

Big problems require a Big God! There were 3 million Israelites wanting to eat meat in the wilderness after growing tired of eating manna from Heaven. Moses complained to God of the huge challenge to supply enough meat to feed all of the people. God reminded Moses that His arm is not too short to do miracles. Sure enough, God caused a strong wind to blow the bird from the seas and fell to the ground.

Number 11:31 -32 31 Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits[a] deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.[b] Then they spread them out all around the camp.

God is so good. He always has an answer to every situation we face in life. Indeed, His arm is not too short to perform miracles on our behalf. Let us trust in God to do the impossible in every area of our life. We serve a God who has unlimited power and resources.

THE PRAYERS OF MOSES - MOSES' STORY

THE PRAYERS OF MOSES - MOSES' STORY

Moses prayed to God for the three important areas:

1. To know God and His way
2. To receive God's favour
3. To experience God's presence

Let us pray like Moses to receive the same blessings.

Exodus 33:13-14 "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

If you could ask God for anything in this world, what would you ask? Would you ask God for more money, fame or material things? Moses did not ask God for any of these things. Moses' made three personal prayers request to God:

1. To know God and His way
2. To receive God's favour
3. To experience God's presence

We can see that Moses eagerly desired more of God in his life. Moses humbly acknowledged his dependency upon God. He was unable to lead the Israelites without the divine intervention of God. Moses’ prayer request was God-focused and not self-focused. Moses' prayer was directed towards God and fulfilling God's purpose. Let our prayer request go beyond our personal needs and toward knowing and possessing more of God and His purpose.

Let us put God in the centre of our lives so we can glorify Him on earth.

LOVING GOD'S PRESENCE - MOSES' STORY

LOVING GOD'S PRESENCE - MOSES' STORY 

Mose greatest desire was to be in the presence of God and fellowship with God. Every time Moses spent time with God, the glory of God was upon Him. Moses' face reflected the glory of God to the people of Israelites. Let us desire for God like Moses so we can also reflect the glory of God in our world.

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

When you spend a lot of time with the same people in your life, you will reflect their likeness, habits, attitudes and character. Moses was a man that loved to be in the presence of God. Moses would spend hours or days seeking and dwelling in the presence of God. When Moses finished seeking God and went to see the Israelites, his face would be glowing with the glory of God. People had to put a veil over Moses' head because he was shining too brightly for the eye to see. Moses was full of God and people around him could see and sense it. We read that Moses went back to seek God again after spending time with the people. Moses just cannot get enough of God. He loved the presence of God so much that nothing could draw him away from God.

The more time we spend with God, the more we will be like God in our thoughts, attitudes, behaviour and actions. Connection with God, through daily devotion, prayer, reading scriptures, worship and obeying His words, will transform ourselves and the people around us. We need to practice seeking and dwelling in the presence of God so we can have what Moses had - a deep personal encounter with God's glory.

We are called to be our representative on earth and we can truly represent God if we spend time building strong intimacy and relationship with God like Moses and reflect God to people around us.

LEARNING TO OBEY GOD - MOSES' STORY

LEARNING TO OBEY GOD - MOSES' STORY

Mose and the israelites had no water in the desert to drink but God has an answer to every problem. God asked Moses to strike the rock and water flowed out of the rock. Whatever problems we face today, ask God for an answer.

Exodus 17:6 "I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Moses was a man that walked in obedience to God's words. In every situation and problems, Moses would enquire of God and follow God's instruction. When Moses and the Israelites found bitter water after crossing the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water and the water was purified. This time, there was absolutely no water found in the desert. There was only a rock in front of Moses. God asked Moses to strike the rock with his staff and water started to gush out of the rock. God provided a different solution to the same problem and Moses just obeyed God's words.

We need to learn to listen to God and obey God for all of our problems in life. We would be less stressed and more relaxed if we just learn to seek God every time we encounter problems in our lives and follow His instructions. God has an answer to every situation we face in life. Nothing is in the too hard basket for God. No water? God made water flow from a rock to quench thirst of 3 million Israelites. No job? We can pray for God to provide a new job or pray for God to help us start a small business or pray for God to allow us to further our education.

God have many good solutions for our problems so we should start listening and obeying Him.

GOD RAINED DOWN BREAD - MOSES' STORY

GOD RAINED DOWN BREAD - MOSES' STORY

The Lord provided for Moses and the Israelites' bread from heaven in the desert. Today, God also promises to provide for our daily needs through Jesus Christ. Let us trust in God to provide for our family, business and ministry

Exodus 16:4 "Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day".

It was something never seen before in the history of humankind: God raining down bread from heaven to feed 3 million people walking in the wilderness. It is hard to believe how God could make so much bread from heaven rain down on earth. This is beyond human logic and scientific explanation. The only explanation to this phenomenon is God can do all things. He can choose whatever ways to provide for the Moses and the Israelites. God did not lead the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness to die of starvation. God's name was glorified by this supernatural provision from heaven. None of the Israelites could doubt His love and provision by this supernatural act of God.

Likewise, we need to put our trust in God for every provision for our lives. We can trust God to provide in the area of our education, finance, business, ministry, relationship and future. Let us believe God to provide whether we trust Him for small things or big things. God often wants us to trust Him in the little things first before we can trust Him for bigger things. Do not allow the lack of provision stop us from believing God for provision. Moses and 3 million Israelites walked in the desert with no provision of food. God provided bread for them from nothing. God can provide for us through many means and options.

We need to keep praying and trusting in God to provide in His perfect timing.

GOD PROVIDES DRINKING WATER - MOSES' STORY

GOD PROVIDES DRINKING WATER - MOSES' STORY

When Moses and the Israelites were in the desert and there was no water, God used Moses to convert bitter water into drinking water. Moses threw a piece of wood into the bitter water and it became drinking water. God can provide for us even during the desert time.

Exodus 15:25a "Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

How much litres of water is required for a moving population of 3 millions Israelites walking in the desert? The amount of water needed would be a same amount as a modern city today. Water is essential to life. Water is needed for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, cleaning etc. Without water, the whole community of Israelite would perish in the desert. Moses confronted his biggest challenges since crossing the red seas; where to find enough water for 3 millions people in the desert? The water that they have found was undrinkable, it was bitter. God has a way of purifying the water. He asked Moses to throw a piece of wood to purify the water. The water became drinkable after Moses threw the piece of wood into the water. It seem like the piece of wood acts as a healing agent to purify the water for drinking purpose.

God is so good at doing the impossible. He created nature and He can use what is in nature to fix the problem. He did not allow the Israelites to cross the red seas to died of thirst in the desert. God is so much bigger, He always has a solution to every problem we face in life.

Let us trust in God to continue to do miracles and provide for us.