Can Jesus still perform miracles over nature to protect us?
Jesus’ 33 Miracles
1. Removing demons
2. Ruling over nature [provision & protection]
3. Restoring health
4. Raising the dead
-Creation – SUV – sunrises/sunsets, fall colors, sound river/creek, ocean, snow [1 slide]
Romans 8:18–22 the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility…in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
- DOMINION: sin/fall/curse – creation behaves broken/dangerous
- MIRACLES; signs Kingdom – curse lifted creation healed
Jesus Calms a Storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25) [1 slide]
Luke 8:22-25 – One day he [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
- Hometown region Galilee – 25/33 recorded miracles performed
- Between Mt Hermon (9k ft up) & Jordan River (sea level) – warm & cold = storms
- Jesus exhausted – full day preaching from boat [me & preaching]
- Fell asleep on boat, did not wake up
- Seasoned fishermen feared for life
I need photo of old boat & new replica: https://www.seetheholyland.net/jesus-boat/
Psalm 89:9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
- YOU: Like Jesus you will hit the limits of your humanity
- STORM SURGE: normal storm hits = exhausted, anxious, & fearful.
- Is Jesus in your boat?
- Are you talking to Jesus/praying?
10 yrs ago STORM SURGE: Family made sure in boat w/Jesus & praying
Jesus Causes a Fig Tree to Die (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14)
Matthew 21:18–22 – In the morning, as he [Jesus] was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
=Command – pray in faith (miracles point to Kingdom & dominion authority)
Negative Miracle: judge not save; destroy not heal (Daniel 12:2)
- Matthew Jewish writing to Jews – OT fig tree symbol Israel/God’s chosen people
- Covered in religious foliage but no fruit
- Prophecy of stripping happened by Romans slaughter AD 66-77 (=patience)
=CHECK OUR OWN HEARTS. ARE WE RELIGIOUS? LEAVES NO FRUIT?
Jesus Causes Peter to Walk on Water (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21)
Matthew 14:22–33 – Immediately he [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Storm Surge – $, physical, emotional, spiritual, relational
You = overwhelmed & exhausted
- Blown off course
- Lose sight of Christ
“Do not be afraid” Jesus 1. Relieves fears 2. Removes storm 3. Restores hope
- Jesus comes to those in a storm (He found them, they did not find Him)
- Jesus is bigger than your storm (storm bigger disciples, Jesus bigger storm)
- The supernatural is bigger than the natural
- Jesus can deliver from danger. Human history 1 big storm He gets boat safety
=¾ gospels. Only Matthew says Peter walked on water (KINGDOM)
=Looking to Jesus ur okay, as soon as you get your eyes off Him you start to sink
- Jesus saved them. 2. They worshipped Jesus! (GOSPEL Jesus came to us)
Jesus heals all of creation
- Heaven – intermediate state
- Kingdom – Human resurrection & Creation restoration
- = Curse lifted – ETERNAL LIFE IS THIS LIFE PERFECT FOREVER
- God RETURNS to His original design plan – restore, redeem, renew, resurrect,
- God doesn’t change, but we do God doesn’t change, but heaven and earth do
- Though we change, & Heaven & Earth Change, God’s plan does not change
-Gen 1-2; Rev 21-22 – Beginning Middle Beginning
BAND UP: PRAYER TEAM UP
NO: sin, sickness, crime, lies, death, evil, demonic, fear,
- Perfect relationships – God and other Divine Beings including angels
- Heaven & earth together in perfection forever
- Perfect body and soul
- Perfect job under perfect work conditions learning, growing, exploring
- Perfect mental/emotional health w/o sin or shame
- Perfect relationship with others, starting with spouse
- Perfectly blessed by God in every way w/o any needs
- Perfect dominion over creation – explore & create
- Perfect rest for your body and soul
