WHERE ARE THE MIRACLES?

Mr. Emmanuel Chanai

TO DAY'S SERVICE AT IRINGA CENTRAL CHURCH(ICC), 16 Feb 2020.

MESSAGE: WHERE ARE THE MIRACLES?

SCRIPTURES: Judges 6:1 - 40 (Key Verses 11-17) (NKJ)

11 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And WHERE ARE ALL HIS MIRACLES WHICH OUR FATHERS TOLD US ABOUT, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."

14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

17 Then he said to Him, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.

INTRODUCTION:

A Miracle is an event or action that is amazing, extraordinary, or unexpected. Is an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature. A “miracle” is defined as an extraordinary unusual event manifesting Divine intervention in human affairs.

Gideon’s question should also be asked by Today’s Believers. If God’s miraculous power is lacking among us, we need to SEEK HIS KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS until God’s mighty acts are manifested in our midst. After all, we have the promise of God to do in an even greater magnitude, the things recorded in Scriptures.

Mark 16:15-19 (NKJ)

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

John 14:12-14 (NKJ)

12 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

HOW CAN THE MIRACLES BE PART OF OUR LIFE?

Every believer is eager to see Miracles happen through him/her. However, Miracles will be a part of our life and the life of this assembly iff (if and only if ↔⇋) we:

I. BELIEVE THAT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (Matthew 17:20, Phil 4:13)

1. Gideon threshed wheat (the staff of life) where he could hide it from the Midianites. How tragic to have to hide what is rightly his! I wonder what the angel of the Lord must have been thinking to see one of His children so fearful of the devil (v.11).

2. Gideon didn’t realize his potential. He saw himself as weak. After all, to this point the Bible doesn’t tell of any great acts of faith Gideon had done. He was just an ordinary man.

3. But God called him by what He knew he would be with the anointing of God upon his life—“The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” (v.12)

4. Gideon doubted God’s presence, concern, and love. He believed that God had forsaken them. Jesus said,”Lo I am with you always.” It is clear that it had been some time since God’s people had seen a mighty manifestation of His power for themselves. Gideon spoke of what he had heard from their fathers. Where be all His miracles? We cannot live on the experiences of our fathers. We must believe and expect God to work fresh in our lives NOW. (v.13)

II. MOVE FORWARD IN GOD’S POWER (Ephesians 3:20-21)

1. The Lord looked upon him (v.14). I believe that God looks upon us and sees our needs. What are your needs today? God looks upon you and sees what you need!

2. Gideon needed “might” and the Lord told him to “go in this thy might” (v.14):

(a) to do the impossible

(b) to know that God has sent him

3. Put away the doubt (v.15,17).

4. Do we have a sign that God talks to us? YES, His Holy Word.

III. MOVE FORWARD IN THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16-17)

1. We cannot walk in the Spirit and in the flesh at the same time.

2. There is a constant war within us. The Spirit wants to lead us in a walk of faith while the flesh wants to lead us in a walk of self and unbelief.

3. Gideon’s sacrifice teaches that God can’t use flesh. He must consume it (v.21).

4. “Present your bodies (flesh) as living sacrifices . . .” Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

CONCLUSION:

“Where be all His miracles?” They’re still here! Jesus Christ is the same—yesterday, today, and forever.