Miracles, Part 5: The Greatest Miracle of All

(John 14:12)  "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." (Philippians 3:10 GN)  "All I want to know is Christ and experience the power of His resurrection." (Romans 8:11)  "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."  How do I get a miracle in my life?  1.  Open up to God's power. (Ephesians 4:18 LB)  "Many are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds against Him, so they can't understand His ways." (Ephesians 1:19-20 LB)  "I pray that you'll begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  It's the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead."  2.  Stay under God's grace. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Message)  "My grace is enough; it's all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.  Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 3.  Always remember God's love. (Romans 8:35-39 LB)  "Who then can ever keep Christ's love from us?  When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn't love us anymore?  And if we are hungry, or penniless, or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?  No—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God…"  The Greatest Miracle of All  (Mark 2:1-5)  A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 8:36) (NLT) And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (Mark 2:6-7)  Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:8-9)  Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? (Mark 2:10)  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." (Mark 2:10-12)  He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Luke 10:17-20)  The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."  He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Revelation 20:12, 15)  "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life…If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Is your name in the book of life? (Matthew 7:22-23) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.