“And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4–5, ESV
When John the Baptist was wondering if Jesus was the Christ, Jesus told John’s disciples to share the gospel’s effects: “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5) For Jesus, proof of the gospel’s efficacy was displayed when lives were changed, people were healed, the scriptures were taught, and the good news of salvation was shared. In effect, Jesus claimed that whenever God’s gospel was shared, powerful things happened. People were blessed. Lives were changed. Miracles occurred. Spiritual changes took place. If you want to know whether a place is holy, this scripture reminds us to look for the effects of the gospel in that place. When God is active, lives will be changed. Amazing things will happen. God will touch the lives of those who hear and respond.
Sadly, I see too many Christians who have turned their spiritual life into a spirit-less trek. They don’t expect miracles. They don’t anticipate that the gospel message will bring healing. I’ve even heard some Christians say that miracles don’t happen anymore… those only happened in biblical times! How wrong they are! Whenever God is present, miracles occur, lives are changed, powerful spiritual manifestations occur. If you aren’t experiencing God’s active work around you, something is spiritually WRONG! You need to ask God to rekindle the Holy Spirit within you and then unleash the power of the gospel on your surroundings!
A famous preacher was getting ready to begin the service at New Park Street Church in London. He believed God had the power to change lives. He expected God’s Spirit to work wonders. Several nights before, he felt God calling him to preach on Luke 7:36-50. The scripture was about a woman who had sinned and who used her tears to wipe Jesus’ feet as she anointed them. The preacher prayed about what to say and how to say it. He then wrote and edited a message for that night. Then, he readied his heart for worship.
When the pastor got into the pulpit that night, he began his sermon by quoting Jesus from Luke 7:44, “Seeest thou this woman?” Without his knowing, in the audience that night was a prostitute. She was planning on suicide. She felt worthless and unforgiven. In fact, she had already convinced herself to jump off a particular bridge, Blackfriar’s Bridge within hours. On her way to commit suicide, she decided to make one last appeal for God’s forgiveness. As she sat in a pew, she heard the pastor shout the words from scripture that Jesus said about that woman who anointed him with tears… “Do you see this woman?” When the pastor shouted those words, the prostitute immediately felt she was being accused just like the woman in the scripture. However, when the preacher went on to explain how Jesus was praising the act of kindness given by this woman, the prostitute listened intently. Her heart became warmed that Jesus would forgive the sins of that women. The prostitute felt Jesus calling her directly. She responded by giving up her notions of suicide, was baptized, and became an active follower of Jesus Christ.
Why is it that people go to worship without expecting to meet with God at that holy place? Whenever people gather together in Jesus’ name, powerful things happen. Why not?
A man who was on his way home after buying some gin saw the crowd at a church door and pushed his way in to see what was going on. He took a spot in the church and planned on spoiling the message. As the service began, Charles Spurgeon, who was speaking that night, turned and faced the congregation and said that there was a man in the gallery who had a gin bottle in his pocket and had come with no good motive. Shocked, the startled man stayed for the rest of the worship service and was converted.
How could the pastor know that the prostitute needed to hear a scripture of a woman being saved by Jesus in order to hear the gospel? He couldn’t know. How could Charles Spurgeon have known that a man had just bought some gin and was going to act up during worship? He didn’t. Both times, the pastor found out later what God was doing all along. God was making miracles happen. God was going to bless the gospel message. God was going to change lives in those services!
In our scripture for today, Jesus was confident in the power of the gospel. Jesus knew that amazing things happen whenever people came seeking an audience with God. When you pray, be ready for God to speak! When you go to bed at night, expect that God may whisper to you in your dreams. When you are in worship, don’t be surprised by the nudges and musings as the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds you to “always be prepared” to share the gospel. At any moment, someone may ask you why you believe. At any moment, a miracle may occur. You never know the time and place when someone will need you to pray or share a hug or offer a shoulder or lend a hand.
Amazing things happen when people of God follow the working of the Holy Spirit as it acts around them. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you expect it?
Sadly, I see too many Christians who have turned their spiritual life into a spirit-less trek. They don’t expect miracles. They don’t anticipate that the gospel message will bring healing. I’ve even heard some Christians say that miracles don’t happen anymore… those only happened in biblical times! How wrong they are! Whenever God is present, miracles occur, lives are changed, powerful spiritual manifestations occur. If you aren’t experiencing God’s active work around you, something is spiritually WRONG! You need to ask God to rekindle the Holy Spirit within you and then unleash the power of the gospel on your surroundings!
A famous preacher was getting ready to begin the service at New Park Street Church in London. He believed God had the power to change lives. He expected God’s Spirit to work wonders. Several nights before, he felt God calling him to preach on Luke 7:36-50. The scripture was about a woman who had sinned and who used her tears to wipe Jesus’ feet as she anointed them. The preacher prayed about what to say and how to say it. He then wrote and edited a message for that night. Then, he readied his heart for worship.
When the pastor got into the pulpit that night, he began his sermon by quoting Jesus from Luke 7:44, “Seeest thou this woman?” Without his knowing, in the audience that night was a prostitute. She was planning on suicide. She felt worthless and unforgiven. In fact, she had already convinced herself to jump off a particular bridge, Blackfriar’s Bridge within hours. On her way to commit suicide, she decided to make one last appeal for God’s forgiveness. As she sat in a pew, she heard the pastor shout the words from scripture that Jesus said about that woman who anointed him with tears… “Do you see this woman?” When the pastor shouted those words, the prostitute immediately felt she was being accused just like the woman in the scripture. However, when the preacher went on to explain how Jesus was praising the act of kindness given by this woman, the prostitute listened intently. Her heart became warmed that Jesus would forgive the sins of that women. The prostitute felt Jesus calling her directly. She responded by giving up her notions of suicide, was baptized, and became an active follower of Jesus Christ.
Why is it that people go to worship without expecting to meet with God at that holy place? Whenever people gather together in Jesus’ name, powerful things happen. Why not?
A man who was on his way home after buying some gin saw the crowd at a church door and pushed his way in to see what was going on. He took a spot in the church and planned on spoiling the message. As the service began, Charles Spurgeon, who was speaking that night, turned and faced the congregation and said that there was a man in the gallery who had a gin bottle in his pocket and had come with no good motive. Shocked, the startled man stayed for the rest of the worship service and was converted.
How could the pastor know that the prostitute needed to hear a scripture of a woman being saved by Jesus in order to hear the gospel? He couldn’t know. How could Charles Spurgeon have known that a man had just bought some gin and was going to act up during worship? He didn’t. Both times, the pastor found out later what God was doing all along. God was making miracles happen. God was going to bless the gospel message. God was going to change lives in those services!
In our scripture for today, Jesus was confident in the power of the gospel. Jesus knew that amazing things happen whenever people came seeking an audience with God. When you pray, be ready for God to speak! When you go to bed at night, expect that God may whisper to you in your dreams. When you are in worship, don’t be surprised by the nudges and musings as the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds you to “always be prepared” to share the gospel. At any moment, someone may ask you why you believe. At any moment, a miracle may occur. You never know the time and place when someone will need you to pray or share a hug or offer a shoulder or lend a hand.
Amazing things happen when people of God follow the working of the Holy Spirit as it acts around them. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you expect it?