Miracles, Part 1: Water to Wine

(John 14:12-13)  "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." (Proverbs 13:12) (NLT) "Hope deferred makes the heart sick.." (John 2:1-3)  "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, 'They have no more wine.'" A.   We focus on feelings instead of faith. (John 2:3)  "When the wine was gone…" (Job 30:20 GN) "I call to you, O God, but you never answer; when I pray, you pay no attention." B.   We take matters into our own hands. (John 2:3)  "…Jesus' mother said to him "They have no more wine." …" (1 Peter 5:7) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (Isaiah 30:15)  "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." C.   We exaggerate the negative.   (John 2:3)  "…They have no more wine." (Psalm 116:3)  "The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow."   (Jeremiah 20:18 TEV)  "Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?" How do we get a Miracle?         1.  Do what Jesus says to do.   (John 2:5)  "His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9 LB)  "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours!  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours."   2.  Focus on what God wants to do in you. (John 2:6)  "Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons." (1 Peter 1:6-7)  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 3.  Believe the unbelievable. (John 2:8-9)  "Then he told them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.'  They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew." (Mark 10:27)  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."   4.  Expect the best. (John 2:10)  "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." (Ephesians 3:20)  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."   For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.