Signs of the Times (Part 2)

Preached by Ps Jude Blayney

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John 4:46-54 The healing of a Noble Man's Son.

Through out the book of John we see a declaration. 'Nothing compares to the Glory of the Lord'. The whole of John's gospel is about declaring the glory of the Lord Jesus. Within the gospel there are seven signs all pointing to some aspect of the glory of God.

I believe that the church has somehow wondered away from the glory of the Lord. I do not want to condemn any particular church or any particular ministry but the enemy of our faith has attempted, at times, to rob us of our relationship with God through worship. Over the years the Christian church has needed to become better at its presentation of the gospel. To large extent we are well on the way to doing this. Praise God. I believe that we will again see miracles and the supernatural coming more prominent in our walk and witness. I am not just talking about healings but financial, social, political miracles. We have already begun to see miracles in other ways and we will see more. The Family First political party getting a seat in the senate at its first go at federal politics. It's almost unheard of today. Christians winning major music awards and competitions. God wants to give us miracles.

In John 4:46-54 we see the second of seven signs in the book of John.

Let's read it again.

Some key thoughts starting to emerge are

1. Miracles are signposts not destinations.

The noble man believed after the miracle. He did not go back for another miracle. He believed. Miracles always should produce faith.

2. Miracles happen through God's spoken word.

This is a key component of all miracles.

• They are not based on feelings
• They are not based on your knowledge – the nobleman did not know about the son being healed until his servants met him on the way home with the news. Yet even before he got home and heard the news, had the understanding he believed. See verse 50.
• They are based on faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Some have tried to interpret it to prove their beliefs but it doesn't matter how you interpret this verse it still says the same thing. The word of the Lord produces faith. That's why we attend church – to hear the word of the Lord. That's why we worship- to hear the word of the Lord.

3. Miracles happen in God's presence.

The noble man's miracle happened while he was in the presence of Jesus.

This is important and one we must no over look. Every time we spend time with God in worship, in His presence, the soul of our lives gets fertilised. Every time we give ourselves in worship, we are in the presence of the Lord.

Now I know, God never leaves us or forsakes us so actually we are never out of the presence of the Lord. Where the problem lies is not in the truth of where God is, but in the error of where our minds are. Let me just digress and remind you that the true meaning of repentance in the Greek is 'change your thinking'. Remember that the Greek word for repentance is 'metanoyia' which means to change your mind or thinking. How do we do that? We replace the thoughts that the world says about us with what God says about us. We replace the thoughts of what the world says is happening with who God is. By doing this we are truly repenting and aligning ourselves with God. What worship does is to place our minds where they should be. As we do this, we come very quickly to realise that God wants us to run into Him. He desires to work miracles in our lives.

So if Jesus is always with us and he always wants to do miracles so that others and ourselves can believe then miracles are meant to be apart of our lives. Miracles are meant to happen in the presence of God. That's why the spirit of God moves so powerfully through worship and often the minister gets words of knowledge etc. Also that's why every one can receive revelations during worship.

Let's just remember that the majority of personal revelations during worship are just that 'personal'. Let's not let pride or any other form of insecurity try to force us to 'give the word of the Lord'. Whenever you are forced just remember maybe its time to back away because I believe God is a gentleman. He wants everything done to order. Disorder was the problem in the Corinthian church.

Miracles come in the presence of the Lord.

4. Miracles don't happen the way we always think they should.

The noble man wanted Jesus to come down to him; all Jesus did was to speak.

5. Miracles start in the House of praise.

Jesus came out of Judea. Judea means praise. Here is a vital key to life. It's not about our problems or how big, small, painful or otherwise it's about been we put our minds. Praise is the key to open heaven, for it puts your thoughts on God.

Miracles are for today. This year, 2005, I believe is the year of the miracle. Let's put aside all that happened in the past and embrace with Jesus 2005.