How to Receive a Miracle
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all (passing through/practice for eternity) things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) 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 (Rutland/First Wednesday), 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Prayer-let us see the opportunity and not the opposition
1. Seed – The Word of God
Genesis 1:1, Romans 10, John 1:1
James 1:19-21 (NIV) 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
2. Soil – The Condition of One’s Heart
Luke 8:15 (NIV) 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
3. Water – The Operation of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 44:3 (NIV) 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
John 4:13-14 (NIV) 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 7:37-39 (NIV) 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
4. Light –The Work of Christ’s Revelation
John 1:9 (NIV) 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 8:12 (NIV) 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 12:46 (NIV)
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Mary’s Experience
Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) 26 In the sixth month(relative Elizabeth), God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Putting it all Together
Question: How did Mary receive a miracle of this magnitude so easily…so faithfully, so simply, seemingly without struggle?
Soil – God is always speaking
Water and Light – Holy Spirit and Christ’s interaction with her
Why did it look so easy for Mary?
She was already familiar with Struggle and had already learned to trust God. She was a poor peasant girl but she was a rich young woman in her faith. In the natural, these challenges do not work themselves out, they have to be conceived and then born through the trials of a kind of labor. But all things are possible with God!
She was willing to Risk everything she currently had to receive what God wanted to give her! She was willing to risk her relationships and her reputation…the person that she loves, dreams a beautiful wedding with family and friends. She is saying yes to God and this miraculous invitation…but it’s going to sound very strange to others-…it’s not going to go well with Joseph “I am pregnant-we haven’t been together” no one in her life is going to believe what God is doing…until later-probably lose friends, mocked, ridiculed and even outright rejected
The Word of the Lord
John 12:24 (NIV) 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 15:5(NIV) 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.