Everyone can become more focused in prayer by making 4 requests.
One way we can learn about a person is observing their actions.
What do we learn about who God is from miracles?
God is alive, aware, able, active, already at work.
Power, more powerful than any other or our limitations
Love, compassionate, empathetic, doing something about it
Purposeful, Creator/Redeemer, Good News Kingdom purpose, understands/designed order of our natural world
God is the God of love, power, and purpose.
What do specific miracles help us learn about who God is, what God cares about, what God desires, what God can do?
Protect Daniel from lions and/or 3 guys from furnace: power, affirms/confirms their testimony
Part the Red Sea: freedom from oppressors, Promised Land of peace and covenant relationship
virgin birth of Jesus Christ: power to give life, confirms Savior identity of Jesus
resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ: power over death, Jesus’ sacrifice accepted
healing leprosy: God’s power over diseases, God’s love for those who have been separated
deliverance from the harassment of demons: power over all, power over dark spirits, freedom bringer
Mark 2:1-12 Jesus healing paralyzed man and forgiving sins, proving his authority to forgive sins.
What do we learn about God from this miracle?
When Jesus brings healing, strength, forgiveness and new life to the paralyzed man it points to His identity as Savior, which reveals the God of love, power, and purpose.
God is the God of love, power, and purpose.
Whether we see the miracle today or on the day that Jesus returns, we should be yearning to see God’s loving power revealed.
As we mature as Jesus followers, we should pray for miracles so that God would be revealed, received, and responded to.
What should we do?
Everyone can become more focused in prayer by making 4 requests.
4 Requests
1. Pray, asking God for wisdom and increased faith.
2. Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand what the specific miracles you are praying for would reveal about who God is.
3. Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to help people become aware of who God is.
4. Pray, asking the Holy Spirit, “What one thing should I do about this today?”