Now That's a Miracle

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I believe UBC.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop for something to be a miracle. It has to be done by God. God has to be the source, God has to be the power behind what happened. It has to be done by God as an unusual temporary change in the natural order and it should point back to God. That's a miracle we can break it apart and see what that truly means, and today's message is now that's a miracle if you have your Bibles with you turn to Mark chapter 4 now when they had left the multitude they took him along in the boat as he was an other little boats were also with him in the great wind storm arose in the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling but he meeting Jesus was in the Stern asleep on a pillow and they awoke him and said to him, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing, then Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind and said to the CPEs. Be still, and the wind seized and there was a great calm but he said to them to his disciples, why are you so fearful. How is it that you have no faith in the feared exceedingly, and said to one another who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him was that a miracle course it was for a moment, the God of the universe stepped into the natural order and just with his word stopped the storm. We'll talk about that. What that really means. But as I mentioned to you earlier, the greatest miracle is not calming the storm were feeding the 5000. The greatest miracle is the miracle of a change life. No one can take that miracle away when a new series called miraculous were looking at the miracles of Jesus you know we're doing a series on the life of Christ, we have been for the past for five years and we began this series last weekend with the question, do miracles happen and I give you a statement. I hope you will remember and if you were not there last week here is that statement if you can believe in God you can believe in miracles.

You see miracles come from God. But if you are an atheist. If you are agnostic. If you are someone who says I don't know about God creating the world. I believe in evolution. I believe in this net you will have trouble believing in miracles, but if you have no problem believing that it designer a God made this world than miracles are simply God's order God stepping into his nature and temporarily suspending his order, making miracles happen. If you can believe in God you can believe in miracles.

But today we'll look at the second question which I believe is very important and very applicable.

What is a miracle for something to be a miracle. It has to be done by God. God has to be the source as an unusual temporary change in the natural order and should point back to God.

That is a miracle is a will, that's a mouthful or you break it down and look at it step-by-step what exactly that means, let's begin the first one for event to be a miracle. It has to be done by God in the Old Testament the greatest miracle is the parting of the Red Sea repeatedly. The psalmist talk about it repeatedly. The people of God, give praise to him for what he did at the Red Sea. What did God do you remember as Pharaoh's army was chasing them.

They came to the Red Sea and they prayed and they cried and God send an east wind that blew all night, and the waters parted and this stood up as a wall.

The picture that this stood up as a wall and God's people were able to walk across on dry ground. Pharaoh's army, Pharaoh's charioteers were following them and when that's all that happened this a boys. This goal is get him and when they ran through and they rode through the same dry ground, the waters came back in the all drown the greatest miracle of all. In the Old Testament now through out history people have tried to say that this really had nothing to do with God. For example, a scientist by the name of Carl Drews from the US national Center for atmospheric research is a mouthful. But what it really means is like whether center is a scientist and few years ago he came up with this alternative theory. He came up with a computer simulation of how this miracle could've happened just by natural causes.

So what he did was first of all, he brought out the fact that when you look at the word read see in the Old Testament in the Hebrew it's not really red. It's read see you somewhere in the world to get that from cucumber than just a moment. He said it is just a read. See, it's because the Hebrew words Yum Sophia Yamane see self means read.

Is this not a deep sea it's more like a freshwater lake that was probably ankle-deep or knee-high that was people were able to walk through something else he said is of the wind that that blue is more like it when said downs were winds over 60 miles an hour push the coastal waters away creating dry ground, and when the winds changed the waters came back but didn't come back ankle-deep or knee-high the came back more like a surge in all those charioteers in Pharaoh's army does Brown other several problems with that start with if I was being changed. Okay, if I was being chased by Pharaoh's army with horsemen, charioteers, and it was in ankle-deep or knee-high freshwater lake with papyrus growing through their folks that would not stop me not about you.

I would be used. I would be run. Walking on water.

At that point running through the grass. A man sometimes people don't think right. Some of these hunters don't think now the word in Hebrew is Yum Sophia Yamane see self means read but what he didn't tell you is that word so also means and as an end of the earth.

What it really should be translated is the sea. At the end of the earth member the end of the earth of the Egyptian people was the Mediterranean Sea. That's where you come to the end if you want to go across, which most people were afraid back then to cross the sea across the ocean.

That was the end of the earth for them. By the time the Jewish people translated the Old Testament into Greek, which we call the Septuagint. They did not call it the read see they called it the Red Sea because by that time.

That same sea which was known as the sea.

At the end of the earth was known as red see why read because the claimant was red. You see, in time, names chain, each what was at one time known as the sea. At the end of the earth became known as the Red Sea and thus will recall that even to this day it's not read as an papyrus read is a C at the end of the year so this scholar says that really didn't happen.

By the way I do know how in the world you would drown chariots and ankle-deep water. I'm just think about that for a moment. I mean how would you drown people and ankle treatment. I'm not suggesting will do that but but try that next time in the bathtub. See if you can make it work was the point.

The point is this a true miracle is a demonstration of God. Listen to how God's people saying after this happened, listen to Exodus chapter 15 verse one then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord saying, I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed variously if someone does help me cross and ankle-deep water. Robin design met and he triumphed gloriously like thank you for helping me across those people saw miracle a man doesn't know what else to say is that the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea about you, but going someone in ankle-deep water doesn't make that much of a splash.

The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. He is my God and I would praise him, my father's God and I will exalt you see these people who crossed the Red Sea on that day they knew that they had experienced the hand of God, and to them. This was a real see a real ocean, they crossed in Pharaoh's army drown before their eyes. The point is this a true miracle is a demonstration of God. CS Lewis I love him Christian intellectual philosopher listen to how he describes and defines miracle. He said I use the word miracle to mean an interference with nature. I supernatural power for a miracle to be a miracle.

God has to do the impossible was a second thing, it has to be unusual in the Old Testament there are several miracles that I can bring up. For example, parting the Red Sea. When was the last time you saw him great body of water just part when was the last time the sun and the moon stood still. Just like Joshua commanded them to standstill until the battle was over, it has to be unusual. Go to the New Testament when was the last time you saw someone feed 5000 with a plus women and children with five loaves and two fishes. When was the last time you saw someone walk on water. When was the last time you saw someone come back to life after being in the grave for four days and stinking miracles by definition are unusual. Now I know I'm I've been guilty of this. You get up in the morning as a man what a miracle this every day is a miracle. I know what we mean. But technically that's not a miracle this every day people get up while I don't think so breakout thing understand our day.

What you go to bed. Your heart stops you want to wake up tomorrow is a miracle of God, I hate to break it to you but millions and billions of people every day. Wake up start miracle's gift of God is a wonderful thing but is not a miracle. All the little babies America autism miracle of God offset it to start miracle is God's gift God's behind the promises God brought the baby in this role is not a miracle is that why you say that because billions and trillions of people have been born in this world. Miracles by definition are unusual, dear, dear friend. The problem is this many times we confuse listen carefully. The providence of God with the miracles of God. Those are two very different things.

What is the providence of God scholar by the name of Wayne Gruden gave this definition. I want to hear this definition carefully salute technical, but I hope it will stay in your mind. This is what he says God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them. Listen again God is continually involved with all created things God did not just make this word and say okay I'm done. They all run this. You know what to do. Just don't mess it up know every single moment God is involved with his creation and what does he do with his creation. He keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them. For example, the trees, who sustains the trees as God actually dies. Another one is born another one begins to grow. He sustains it animals who sustains them.

God does human beings who keeps them who sustains them, who maintains them as God is the providence is God working with his creation something else he does in that definition he cooperates with creative things in every action. God knows every blade of grass in that field and all the fields of the world and he knows exactly how much water it needs. He knows exactly how the soil condition is God knows exactly how long the grass is going to stay alive and what conditions will kill it and what timing. A blade of grass needs to come from the same ground. God knows it all. That's not a miracle of God. That's the providence of God. Animals same thing with them. God created them and he is directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do who made them the way they are, who you so that's interesting who given that instinct is God is not a miracle is the providence of God. This is all part of the providence of God, human beings, while human beings the way they are, who keeps who allows an end sustains a child's life and allows them to grow one day you walk in the house and the little boy sounds like a little girl another day walking as a grown man in the house now in deep boys hardly talk to you like there's an eagle's work is another guy in this place LOL talking about what just happened, who made that happen is not a miracle of God's the providence of God, where he allows them to grow and mature and begin to act as they do something else. He directs them to fulfill his purposes. This is also part of the providence of God was the purpose of trees to give us shade. What is the purpose of plans to give us food God is on animals to entertain us to to be beast of burden to defeat us. That's how God designed them how to God is on human beings.

What is his purpose for us to find him to love him to trust him to live for him and the scroll to influence other people for his kingdom. That's how God has designed us.

That's not a miracle that simply the providence of God. The problem is many times were trying to confuse miracles with providence number give your statement miracle is independent action of God in this world. Providence requires your cooperation. The plan has to cooperate if the plan says I'm not a look at the sun_go back in the ground.

The plans were to die those animals that I'm not hunting from this day on, I'm a vegan. Here the lines gonna die if human beings don't cooperate with God. We also died.

Providence requires cooperation. Miracles are independent. For example, God's people when they left Egypt this all the miracles of God and of the frogs came out, the land turned dark firstborn died male.

Those were miracles when they got to the promised land. What did God tell them he's a send 12 spies into the land so they can bring back a report and 10 of them came back and said there are giants in the land. We can win against them we are grasshoppers, but two of them. Caleb and Joshua said we can take it with those people wanted God doing of the miracle just like you did in Egypt. Do another one here so we don't have to fight God said no you have to purify yourself. You got to pick up your sword go fight the enemy. I'll be with you.

I for you. I'll be behind you happy. But you will have to find some of y'all are asking God for a miracle when you should be seeing God. I want to cooperate with you. I have this addiction. I just need to be delivered. I just wish I just wish God would deliver me from this I just need a miracle preacher pray for me for a miracle.

God says I'm not doing a miracle as long as you keep holding that addiction in your hand. Put it down in my providence. I'll give you self-control. I'll give you wisdom. I'll give you strength, I will give you godly influence in your life cooperate with me. Currently, the relationship send me the most beautiful gorgeous window dropper from the sky. Lord, I will praise you the rest of my life.

Laura got a wonderful handsome guy just out of nowhere God.

God says not a miracle out, but I'll work with you. Start by putting on some deodorant, get a haircut with all the cantankerous behavior you God. You fight with everybody you yourself if you're lazy or sitting there all Dave eaten chinos and watching TV cooperate with me God. What a miracle is a miracle right know me anymore. You love me else has some the goddesses I work with.

You get the difference there is a world of difference between providence and miracles really step on your toes. God I want to have good health goddesses get up in the morning start walking. I like my sleep now. God I love this Lee okay majority of the time in our lives. God works through providence. Here's number three and quickly move it's temporary.

For example, parting the Red Sea.

What happened after Pharaoh's army ran across and they all drowned the Red Sea in part again. What happened after those people late.

The five loaves and two fishes. This still got hungry. The next day what happened when Lazarus came back to life after four days of the miracle of Jesus Christ.

Guess what, folks. He still had to die.

You know all those miracles are temporary, except for two. The only two miracles are permanent. Number one is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He rose from the grave, never to die again like to know was the second permanent miracle when you are born again, no one can take that back from you many times what God does in our lives were asking for God just fuming like a guy just send me some right, my God, would you just put some money in my pocket God says I want to do something deeper that no one can ever take away from you.

I don't need that. Keep keep salvation. I will need to be born again. I'm good with God is interested in is the miracle that cannot and that is salvation focused on a cliché, but here's the last one. True miracles point to God when everything is said and done is not allowed. Awesome. What happened here it people turn around and the praise God. Just like it.

The parting of the Red Sea, they wrote a song in praise to God. Just like at the raising of Lazarus this and who is this person how he has the power over life and death. True miracles always bring glory to God many times what God is reluctant to do miracles in our lives because because what we want is got changed just work this out and thank you I see you later. I think about Hannah in the Old Testament you can get pregnant can have a baby and how she prayed, she prayed with weeping she prayed crying and then finally she got her wish. But before she left at tabernacle. She prayed to God.

If you give me a child I'll give him back to you got answered her prayers. You know how hard that was. That must've been for that mother who could not have a child to bring him back as a little boy and given back to the tabernacle here. This is Samuel true miracles point back to God.

They give God the glory you want a miracle in your life has to be done by God is unusual and will be temporary unless it is the resurrection of Christ in your regeneration and ultimately the point back to God. But most the time in this world. God wants to cooperate with you. God doesn't want to do a miracle. He wants to work providentially in your life cooperate with you, change you work with you and make you to the person is called you to be. But yes, God does do miracles many years ago.

This happened in our life. I was about seven years of age. My mom was sick. I just didn't know what was happening. I was too young. Something was wrong. She she could not sleep at night. She was lot of pain.

She would call if you have trouble breathing is so my dad took her to the hospital in town and they try to do a lot of things but couldn't figure it out. Unfortunately the time she was also pregnant and some of the people to know what they were doing and they were doing x-rays on her left and right without any precaution. Nothing at all. And imagine being hit by all that radiation and then finally it was not getting better and while the doctors came to my dad in confidence. He said look I just want tell you if you want your wife to live, you need to take her somewhere else and somewhere else is not a big hospital somewhere else you need to take her to a medical school because as much as I know I can't seem to figure out what's going on. There's too many symptoms too complicated. So my dad did that very thing. He took her to a Christian medical College in the new text right away.

So this is what your problem is your lungs are filled with fluid. This is what's happening here and will we got admit you right away and they give her the option they said you know if you get anesthesia to drill this this little pipe into your side. We don't know what's can happen to the baby. The baby can handle it. So my mom I respect her.

I admire her because she told him that she will go through the procedure without any anesthesia. God was faithful as he always is and she began to heal and fluid began to drain and all the symptoms began to slowly and prior to that, while the doctors found out that my dad was a pastor and so this was a medical College. Every morning they had devotions and one of the faculty what's responsible to lead devotions and he said hey I'm, running busy this morning would you do, my devotion for me as a sure some of that got up there. Let the devotion people were so impressed how your amazing testimony of a great speaker and one by one all the faculty who are believers would give their turn over to my dad and even though he was not in his pulpit for that month he was preaching every single morning for 15 minutes on the second last day as they were getting ready to be discharged. One of the doctors. One of the professors there was not a believer very very smart man.

He called my mom and dad over and say listen just this one share with you something that is, be hard to take. But the point is this from all our education in all her observation from what we've seen your charge extra.

There's no baby that the system mass. The best thing you can do is get an abortion and get rid of this now so when you go back home to start again. And who knows God will bless you, and you can have another child.

But don't go home and go to this trauma again of having given birth to Peter just nothing and of course my mom and dad were heartbroken because she went through so much pain she endured all of this, they were there were still believing that God will do some things that prayed all night to pray the next morning and the doctor that Prof. had told him before you leave by the x-ray place get another x-ray done and then get your abortion couple days you can go home.

My parents went to the x-ray department.

Everything is a department that was a medical school and the head of the x-ray department was a believer who had been attending all those devotionals and knew my parents really well and she pulled my parents aside and say listen we been observing you for the past month. You are Christians we are believers we trust a living God, go home and trust God and I went right down the slip of paper that machines are down. Long story short, my parents came home three months later had a perfectly healthy baby yes we serve a God who does miracles what he wants from you is your cooperation.

He wants to work with you.

He wants to love you. He wants to hold you wants to guide you and shape you and mold you. He is more interested in your character than your satisfaction. The greatest miracle is what receiving Jesus in your life. No one can take that away. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. We serve a God who is capable of miracles, but also a God he wants to work with us to his providence in our lives and remember the greatest miracle of all is the salvation that's available to us through his son Jesus Christ.

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