Bible Study - Confident (2) - Are Miracles Relevant? - John 10 vs 22-26 and John 14 vs 7-14 - Sunday - October 22, 2023

 

Confident (2) – Are Miracles Relevant? – Sunday - October 22, 2023

This is our second lesson in our series entitled, “Confident in Face of Hard Questions.”

Our focus scripture is John 10:22-26 and John 14:7-14.

Miracles are acts of GOD that point to JESUS and Glorify HIM.

What are miracles? They are beyond human explanation and are considered to be from The ONE TRUE GOD – YAWEH.

GOD sent JESUS, HIS only SON, to come to earth, to live as a human, yet GOD. GOD required the shedding of blood from a pure sacrifice to redeem mankind from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death. JESUS shed HIS sinless blood when HE was crucified. JESUS death, burial, resurrection and ascension assures all who place their faith in HIM eternal life through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

GOD worked through the life of JESUS to reveal HIS power and to confirm that JESUS was truly the promised Messiah.

All who accept JESUS as their Savior are called Christians. The first record we have of Christians is found in Acts 11:26 - The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Christianity is the result of Judeo-Christian ethics. For any person to have his/her sins forgiven, let’s consider 1 John 1: 1-10: The Apostle John wrote:

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (JESUS) — ² that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— ³ what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We are writing these things^[a] so that our^[b] joy may be complete.

When we know the truth, our greatest joy is to share JESUS with others and have the joy of seeing them come to a saving knowledge of JESUS, The CHRIST, WHO takes away the sins of all who place their faith in HIM. Salvation is not complicated. It is simply placing one’s faith in GOD’S only begotten SON, JESUS and in doing so results in that person’s salvation via Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family.

JESUS was the result of the union of the Spirit of GOD, the Divine Sperm and Mary’s embryo or egg. JESUS was the result.

The same is true when a person asks JESUS to forgive him/her for their sins and ask JESUS to come into his/her heart. The human spirit must be changed from being mortal to immortal through the power of GOD and that is what faith in JESUS and HIS passion does quicker than the blink of the eye. A person is born Spiritually into GOD’S Family for eternity. Now that is Good News. Believe it to receive it.  

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him (JESUS) and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. ⁶ If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. ⁷ If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Let’s read John 10:22-26:

Jesus at the Festival of Dedication

²² Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. ²³ Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?^[c] If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”^[d]

²⁵ “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. ²⁶ But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.^[e] 

What was the “Festival of Dedication?” It commemorated the cleansing and rededication of the Jerusalem temple during the “Festival of Dedication.” It was an eight-day Festival and also known as a celebration of lights. In JESUS day it symbolized the hope of the Jews that a new ruler would come and drive out the foreign occupiers and reestablish Israel’s independence. JESUS had to be careful not to give Israelites the wrong impression of HIS mission and purpose ordained by GOD, HIS FATHER. Thus, the miracles that JESUS performed must point to GOD. Miracles are GOD working in and through JESUS to reveal GOD and the manifestation of GOD’S power.

As you may recall, JESUS told HIS disciples in John 10:30:

³⁰ I and the Father (GOD) are one.”

When a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, he/she is one with GOD/JESUS/Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit is our communicator with GOD and JESUS. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.^[a]

As Spirit-born, we are a child of GOD with all the rights and privileges of being GOD’S Son or Daughter.

Sound too good to be true?

The Jewish religious leaders of that day knew the scripture but either failed to see that JESUS was the promised Messiah or chose not to see that JESUS’ life reflected GOD’S presence among them.

What did JESUS teach in Matthew 7:11 - ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

Do you need to talk to GOD? Then, as HIS Son or Daughter through Spiritual birth, let your requests be known to HIM.

Let’s read John 14:7-11:

⁷ Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me^[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

What JESUS said then was not likely fully comprehended by those who were listening to HIM. But when we read this since the crucifixion and the resurrection of JESUS, it makes complete sense. Why? No one took the life of JESUS, HE gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for the sins of the world. However, every person must accept JESUS as their Savior. All who accept HIM as their Savior receive the gift of eternal life through the miracle of being born-again Spiritually. A person’s first birth is physical and will die. However, a person’s second birth is spiritual and eternal and takes place only through faith in JESUS and HIS passion.

Do you recall what JESUS told Nicodemus in John 3: ³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Being born-again is just the beginning of a person’s new Spiritual life in being a disciple of JESUS.

A person’s first birth is physical, however that person’s second birth is the redemption of his/her physical spirit from eternal death to eternally alive through faith in JESUS. It is free but it did cost the life of JESUS, The Savior of all who place their faith in JESUS.

What does it mean for a person to be born-again in his/her spirit? Eternal life!

Let’s read John 14:12-14: Praying in Jesus’s Name

¹² “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me (JESUS) will also do the works that I do. And he (Spirit-born person) will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me^[e] anything in my name, I will do it.^[f]

Spirit-born people must keep in their minds that JESUS is the ONE WHO heals, restores and does mighty works. We must not get the big-head and start to think, “Look what I did.” Also, just like a good mother or father, he/she will not give something to their son or daughter that will harm him or her.

What did JESUS teach HIS disciples as recorded in Matthew 17:20: “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” WOW! Faith is vital and faith is built as Spirit-born people build their relationship with JESUS and function in GOD’S vineyard.

Life is both teaching, learning and application as we who have been Spirit-born allow GOD to work through us.

Last week our son and granddaughter flew back to the United States from Israel. They had been in Israel representing the United States in world robotics competition. They came in third.

While they were in Israel, well you know that war broke out between Israel and Hamas. When they got home, someone asked our granddaughter, “if she was afraid?” She said “I was not scared or worried in Israel because I knew Dad had it.” WOW! That is exactly the faith JESUS and our GOD, JESUS’ FATHER desires from us as we walk through life upon earth. Confidence in our heavenly FATHER. “I knew DAD had it.” WOW! As Spirit-born believers that is exactly the faith GOD desires from us.

And guess what, as Spirit-born people we can call GOD, Abba or Daddy as recorded in Romans 8:15 - ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[a] Father!”

Galatians 4:6: ⁶ Because you are his sons/daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[a] Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:15-16:

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest (JESUS) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

As Spirit-born people, we can approach the very presence of GOD 24/7 and tell HIM of our needs. GOD’S grace is the key. HE listens and HE will take action. We may need to confess something that HE brings to our minds. But know that GOD and JESUS love you and all people. Confess your sins to HIM and ask JESUS to forgive you. There is NO Other Way to receive forgiveness from your sins and go to Heaven.

Blessings!!!